![Hon. Festus Keyamo SAN arrives MMIA past 11:50 p.m. Feb 23 to lead oversight of Terminal 1 fire. Joined FAAN MD & team actively managing situation. Directed morning inspection Tuesday to guide restoration & confirm safety standards. Reaffirmed focus on passenger safety. Story: [link] #KeyamoMMIA #FireIncident #FAAN](https://fullcliphq.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/mym-150x150.jpg "MMIA Fire: Keyamo Inspects Lagos Airport After Terminal 1 Blaze Disrupts Flights")
Nigeria continues to hold its position as the continent’s second-largest onion producer after Egypt, harvesting approximately 2.1 million metric tonnes each year — a crop valued at around N1.17 trillion — according to the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN).
Alhaji Aliyu Isah, the association’s National President, shared this update in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday, February 11, 2026. He highlighted that Nigerian onions are not only a staple domestically but are also exported widely across West and Central Africa, with some shipments reaching European markets.
Economic Impact and Government Support
Isah described onion farming as a vital pillar of the agricultural economy, particularly in rural areas where it supports livelihoods and generates employment. He credited recent government interventions for stabilizing the sector, including:
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Distribution of improved seed varieties.
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Provision of subsidized fertilizers and agrochemicals.
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Stabilizing production volumes and market prices through better input access.
The NOPPMAN leader pointed to growing collaboration between the association, relevant ministries, and government agencies as a key factor in equipping farmers with training and access to modern farming techniques. Efforts are also underway to tackle non-tariff barriers that sometimes hinder smooth regional trade along key corridors.
Strategic Focus for 2026
Looking ahead, Isah outlined NOPPMAN’s focus for the current year:
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Integrated Value Chain: Strengthening cooperation among farmers, processors, marketers, and exporters.
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Trade Facilitation: Working with customs officials to improve cross-border movement.
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Logistics Optimization: Partnering with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to cut export costs and promote value-added processed onion products.
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Regional Cooperation: Active collaboration with counterparts in Ghana, Niger Republic, and Burkina Faso to boost regional trade.
Youth Involvement and Value Addition
Central to the association’s strategy is encouraging greater youth involvement in onion farming and agribusiness. Isah urged young Nigerians to see agriculture as a pathway to wealth creation rather than a last resort. He emphasized that expanding processing facilities is essential to increase value addition and significantly reduce post-harvest losses, which remain a challenge in the sector.
As President of the Regional Observatory Body of Onion in West and Central Africa, Isah noted that NOPPMAN serves as the leading voice for the onion value chain in Nigeria. He expressed strong confidence that, with continued investment and innovation, Nigeria has the potential to overtake Egypt and become Africa’s leading onion producer in the near future.
