The price of a 120-kilogramme bag of onions has increased by 900 per cent in six months, rising from N30,000 in April 2026 to approximately N300,000 in October.
The National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria has attributed the sharp increase to inadequate storage facilities, warehouse fires in northern Nigeria and post-harvest losses estimated at more than 51 per cent during the period.
A market survey by Vanguard AgroBiz found that a large sack of fresh onions sold for N300,000 at the Mile 12 International Market in Lagos, while dried onions were priced between N350,000 and N380,000 as of last week.
Speaking to Vanguard AgroBiz, NOPPMAN National President Aliyu Isah said the price surge was not necessarily caused by insufficient national production, but by the large quantity of harvested onions lost before the next growing season.
Isah said more than 51 per cent of the onions produced between April and October had been lost, worsening supply conditions and pushing up prices.
He attributed the losses to poor storage infrastructure, fires at local storage centres and problems associated with unsuitable seeds introduced into Nigeria during the 2024–2025 farming season.
According to him, the seeds, reportedly imported from Algeria, were unsuitable for Nigeria’s farming conditions and caused significant financial losses for farmers.
Isah estimated that the seed-related crisis alone resulted in losses approaching N100bn, adding that government intervention was necessary to prevent further disruption to the onion industry.
He warned that failure to address the underlying problems could lead to additional losses in subsequent farming seasons and worsen supply challenges.
The association’s president disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture had held discussions with the Bank of Agriculture and the Nigerian Agricultural Development Fund on possible support for seed supplies and other farm inputs.
However, he said the proposed assistance had not been received at the time of the interview, although discussions were continuing.
Isah said the intervention would help farmers restore production and reduce the likelihood of a repeat of the crisis.
He expects onion supplies from Sokoto State to begin arriving around November and December, followed by produce from Aliero in Kebbi State between late December and January. The main harvest season is expected in March and April.
The association expressed optimism that the incoming harvest would help ease prices but stressed that improved storage facilities and timely government assistance were essential to reducing post-harvest losses and preventing future shortages.
Source: Vanguard
