Over 100 Ghanaian Trucks Stranded in Nigeria as Onion Traders Suspend Exports Amid Trade Tensions

More than one hundred Ghanaian trucks carrying vegetables from the Republic of Niger have been blocked and detained in Samia, a small town in Kebbi State, Nigeria, for nearly three days. The trucks, which are loaded with perishable goods mainly onions, are at risk of spoiling as drivers await government intervention.

The incident is linked to rising tensions between Nigerian and Ghanaian traders. Reports indicate that some Nigerian onion traders in Accra recently had their goods prevented from being offloaded by certain Ghanaian traders. In apparent retaliation, armed men in Nigeria have blocked the Ghanaian transporters and held them in Samia.

The drivers typically purchase their produce from Galimi, a farming community in Niger, and transport it through Nigeria, Benin, and Togo before reaching Ghanaian markets. One of the stranded drivers, Awudu Tiajni, described the urgency of the situation.

We’ve been locked here for almost three days. Our goods are perishing. We are appealing to the government for help.

The drivers are calling on the Ghanaian government, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to intervene before their goods are completely lost. Alhaji Fuseini Atiiga, an onion trader in Accra, explained that the tensions also stem from disagreements over the distribution of trucks from Nigeria to Ghana. He said that about 52 trucks are brought into Accra and distributed among associations, but the majority go to a single association, a model that Nigerian traders strongly oppose.

Traders and market observers warn that prolonged delays could significantly affect the vegetable supply chain, increase prices locally, and escalate tensions between Ghanaian and Nigerian traders if the matter is not promptly addressed. The development highlights ongoing cross-border trade challenges in West Africa, underscoring the need for stronger regional coordination to protect traders and their goods.

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Meanwhile, the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN) announced an immediate suspension of onion exports to Ghana. NOPPMAN President, Isa Aliyu, cited persistent harassment and rising tensions in Ghanaian markets, particularly at Kotoku Market in Accra. “Our members have faced sustained harassment and interference in their legitimate business activities. The confiscation of onion trucks is a serious violation that we cannot ignore,” Aliyu said.

He explained that the association had no choice but to halt all onion transportation to Ghana to protect its members from further losses and insecurity.

We have directed an immediate suspension of onion exports along the Ghana corridor. This will remain until the issues are fully addressed and our traders can operate safely, he added.

However, Aliyu dismissed reports alleging that armed men attacked and seized Ghanaian trucks in Nigeria, describing the claims as false. “There was no attack on any Ghanaian truck. The vehicles seen at the border were there due to the ongoing suspension of trade, not because of any security incident,” he clarified. This contradicts accounts from the stranded drivers and Ghanaian traders who maintain that armed men are holding the trucks.

NOPPMAN has called on authorities in both countries and regional bodies to step in and resolve the dispute before it worsens. The association stressed the need to respect regional trade agreements that guarantee free and fair movement of goods across West Africa. With exports now on hold, stakeholders warn of possible supply shortages in Ghana and financial losses for Nigerian farmers if the impasse is not quickly resolved.

Nigeria is a major supplier of onions to Ghana and other neighbouring countries, making the trade a vital source of income for farmers and merchants alike. Recurring disputes between local and foreign traders have often disrupted the market, usually driven by competition and control of trade activities.

As the standoff continues, the stranded Ghanaian drivers remain in Samia, watching their goods spoil while waiting for a resolution. The Ghanaian government has not yet issued an official statement on the matter, but the drivers hope that diplomatic intervention will come before their losses become total.

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