The deplorable state of insecurity in the Southeast has made the Onion Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (OPMAN) decide to stop supplying onions to the region.
This was announced by the National President of OPMAN, Aliyu Isah.
He explained that the decision was predicted on the recent kidnapping of two of his members trucks by gunmen.
Recently, important government facilities in the Southeast, has been destroyed by unidentified hoodlums.
Last week, two trucks filled with onions from the North, to Imo state, were allegedly apprehended and looted by thugs.
Due to the siphoning of the onion trucks, the producers said they would supplying onions to the Southeast.
Meanwhile, farmers and traders in Sokoto State, claimed they had lost 2.4billion worth of Onions, as a result of fire outbreak.
One of the victims, known as Umaru Aliyu Gidan Fadana, said, the fire broke out near the Yan doya market called Ramin Kyra. It began around 12:30 am on Wednesday, according to him.
“We were told that it began with a Gulf vehicle discharging yams at the market, and then expanded d to other locations including their storage.
“I myself, lost 60 bags of onion, and I know others who have lost over 100 bags.
The National President of OPMAN, said that the fire destroyed 200, 000 bags of onion worth ₦2 billion.
“All we can do right now, is to pray to God to help them,” he said, stressing that it was “a terrible and regrettable situation, because of the affected farmers and marketers have lost their investment”. He emphasized that the matter could lead to a significant onion scarcity in the country.
“Some of the farmers sell their harvest to buy input for the future season, and they are unable to return to the farm as a result of this development,” he explained.
Ijeoma Njoku reporting, Obinwannem News | June 4, 2021