The Onion Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (OPMAN) has disclosed its decision to suspend supply of the produce to south-south and south-west states of the country from today.
The implication is that the association has cut supply to all states in the southern part of the country, having earlier suspended the supply of onions to the south-east, citing the hijacking of two of their members’ trucks by gunmen in Imo State.
OPMAN national president, Aliyu Isah, who made this known while briefing journalists on Sunday, said about N4.5 billion worth of onions and property were destroyed by suspected hoodlums across southern states in the last few months, as well as the loss of lives
of members of the association without any compensation.
“Reference to the national executive meeting held today, we are here to report to the members of the public that the incident that happened in Aba, Abia State, Shasha in Oyo State and Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, respectively, results in the loss of lives of three members in Abia, destruction of about 30 trailers and nine utility cars, 50 stores and 10,000 bags of onions, including other valuables.
“During the last #EndSars protests, other people were compensated, leaving out our members. And in Shasha, we lost 27 lives, five trailers, 5,600 bags of onions, 12 utility cars and other valuables,”
he said.
He recalled that in February this year, in Imo State, two trucks of onions worth about N13,000,000 were lost and that all the listed problems resulted in the association’s earlier action to suspend the supply of foodstuffs to the southern states in February through its parent union.
“If the government fails to adhere to the demands of the association, we are shutting down the supply of onions to the entire south by Monday, June 7, 2021,” he said.
Isah called on the federal and state governments to collaborate and set up a committee to investigate the incident that led to the loss of lives and properties of the association’s members.
“We also call on the good people of the southern part of Nigeria to live with the Hausa community in peace, as we are only there for our lawful businesses.”
