Sokoto State Government has pledged its full support to the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on Cross-Border Onion Trade, Market Access and Dispute Resolution, describing the initiative as a significant step towards removing barriers and strengthening onion trade across West and Central Africa.
The agreement was signed in Sokoto on Thursday, 13th August 2026, under the facilitation of the Regional Observatory of Onion Sector in West and Central Africa (ORO/WCA), bringing together onion traders, exporters and stakeholders from Nigeria, Niger Republic, Benin Republic and other participating West African countries.
His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Dr Ahmed Aliyu FCNA, was represented at the ceremony by the Honourable Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Industry, Alhaji Haruna Abbas Bashar.
Presenting the Governor’s remarks, Alhaji Haruna Abbas Bashar commended ORO/WCA and other stakeholders for initiating the agreement, stressing that a well-structured framework for cross-border onion trade would promote economic cooperation, improve market access and address challenges affecting traders and exporters in the region.
The Commissioner urged all parties to the agreement to respect and honour its provisions, assuring that the Sokoto State Government would continue to provide the necessary support, policies and enabling environment to promote trade, business and investment in the State.
Alhaji Haruna Abbas Bashar also announced the Sokoto State Government’s “One Shop” Initiative, under which relevant government agencies responsible for regulating and facilitating export activities would be stationed at a designated point to provide coordinated services and attend to the collective needs of exporters.
According to the Commissioner, the initiative is aimed at reducing unnecessary delays, simplifying procedures and making it easier for exporters to access the services required for their businesses.
Speaking at the occasion, the President of ORO/WCA and NOPPMAN, Alhaji Aliyu Maitasamu Isah, said the agreement was designed to address bottlenecks that had previously hindered the smooth movement and trading of onions across the West and Central African sub-region.
He explained that the agreement would provide onion exporters with the necessary supporting documents and clear guidelines for transporting their products across participating countries, thereby promoting transparency, efficiency and mutually beneficial trade relations.
Alhaji Aliyu Maitasamu Isah urged members of the onion trading community to maintain unity and mutual understanding, while commending the Sokoto State Government under the leadership of Governor Ahmed Aliyu for its continued support to the onion sector.
In his welcome remarks, the Sokoto State Chairman of the Onion Dealers Association, Alhaji Sani Audu Wamakko, called for greater unity among onion traders, stressing that the people involved in the trade share common historical and cultural ties despite colonial boundaries separating the countries.
He noted that, if properly developed and supported, the onion business could become a substantial source of revenue for Sokoto State while creating employment opportunities and strengthening the economic wellbeing of the people.
The ceremony was attended by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Cooperative Agency, Alhaji Usman Arzika Fako; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Alhaji Kasimu Alkali; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Alhaji Mustapha Alkali; President of the Sokoto Chamber of Commerce, Mal Hassan Ladan; directors and senior officials of the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry; as well as business leaders, onion traders and representatives from Nigeria, Niger Republic, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali and Côte d’Ivoire, among other participating countries.
The Sokoto State Government reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regional trade cooperation and creating an enabling environment for businesses and investors to thrive, particularly in the agricultural and export sectors.
