The National Onion Producers Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN) has called for closer collaboration with the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) to strengthen onion exportation improve compliance with international standards and expand access to global markets.
The President of National Onion Producers Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria Aliyu Isah, made the appeal during a courtesy visit by the association’s delegation to the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service Vincent Isegbe, in Abuja.
Isah described the onion value chain as a critical component of Nigeria’s agricultural economy highlighting its contributions to food security employment generation and export earnings. He stressed the need for stronger institutional partnerships capable of improving productivity and enhancing the international competitiveness of Nigerian onions.
According to him, NOPPMAN remains committed to advancing agricultural production, food security and export development while recognising NAQS as a strategic institution responsible for safeguarding agricultural integrity and facilitating safe international trade.
He noted that enhanced collaboration with NAQS would help onion farmers and marketers unlock the full potential of the industry by improving compliance with export requirements and increasing access to international markets.
The NOPPMAN president commended the agency for its role in enforcing phytosanitary regulations and promoting internationally accepted trade standards noting that such functions are increasingly important as Nigeria pursues economic diversification through non-oil exports.
He described onion as one of Nigeria’s most important vegetable crops, with significant domestic and industrial applications including processing into products such as onion powder and onion flakes.
Isah explained that the visit was also aimed at addressing knowledge gaps among members of the association and improving awareness of export certification requirements.
He further advocated greater stakeholder involvement in agricultural policy formulation warning that excluding farmers and producers from decision-making processes could undermine effective implementation.
The association also called for enhanced inspection procedures covering land preparation, seedling production, nursery management, harvesting, storage and certification processes to ensure compliance with international export standards.
In addition, Isah urged the deployment of plant health officers to major onion-producing clusters across the country to facilitate timely inspections and accelerate certification processes.
Responding, Isegbe identified onion as one of Nigeria’s priority export commodities within the agency’s certification framework and expressed readiness to strengthen collaboration with NOPPMAN to improve export performance.
He emphasised the need for improved production standards, reduced post-harvest losses and enhanced product quality to increase the competitiveness of Nigerian onions in global markets.
According to him, NAQS will work closely with stakeholders to improve storage and transportation systems while ensuring proper registration of farmers and industry participants to enhance traceability and verify the quality of planting materials.
We will engage the association, understand your clusters and ensure proper registration of actors to help us ascertain seed quality and trace sources in cases of substandard inputs he said.
Isegbe reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting certification processes and ensuring that Nigeria’s agricultural exports consistently meet international phytosanitary and quality standards.
Stakeholders expressed optimism that stronger cooperation between NOPPMAN and NAQS would enhance export readiness reduce losses across the onion value chain, and create new opportunities for Nigerian farmers in the global agricultural marketplace.
