The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has assured onion farmers and exporters of the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) commitment to removing non-tariff barriers, easing operational bottlenecks, and fostering an enabling environment for agricultural exports.
Adeniyi gave the assurance on Monday, 9 February 2026, during a courtesy visit by the Regional Observatory of Onion in West and Central Africa (ORO/AOC), led by its President, Aliyu Maitasamu, to the Customs House in Maitama, Abuja.
“Let me assure onion farmers and other export-oriented stakeholders that the NCS will stand solidly behind you. We will remove all known non-tariff barriers and work with other government agencies and stakeholders to create a more facilitating environment for your trade,” Adeniyi said.
The CGC noted that while discussions on transit corridors often focus on imports, onion exports present an opportunity to rebalance Nigeria’s trade story. He emphasized that exports drive prosperity, create jobs, improve the balance of trade, and contribute to GDP growth.
He disclosed that following earlier representations by stakeholders, the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation was directed to establish a structured engagement framework with exporters.
Maitasamu commended the NCS for its swift intervention in reopening disrupted corridors. He called for sustained collaboration, stressing that the association has the infrastructure and expertise to support Customs in documentation and compliance management.
Highlighting the sector’s importance, he revealed that Nigeria is Africa’s second-largest onion producer after Egypt, with an annual output of 2.1 million metric tonnes valued at ₦1.17 trillion. He noted that Nigeria and Niger Republic remain the two most significant players in onion production and exchange within ECOWAS and the Sahel.
Deputy Comptroller-General Timi Bomodi described the engagement as consistent with government efforts to balance economic growth with security. He explained that the proposed token system—built on data and infrastructure—would help manage maintenance costs from heavy truck movements.