Onion producers arrest suspect spreading fake seeds

The National Onion Producers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria has intensified its efforts to combat the spread of counterfeit onion seeds across the country.

Speaking to journalists in Sokoto on Saturday, the National President of NOPPMAN, Alhaji Aliyu Isa, confirmed the recent arrest of a suspect identified as Jafaru from Kano State, who was allegedly caught with fake onion seeds.

Alhaji Isa, who voiced serious concerns over the growing infiltration of substandard seeds into the onion value chain, noted that the trend has caused billions of naira in losses for farmers across Nigeria.

“Last year, the onion subsector was severely affected by the circulation of fake and poor-quality seeds, leading to widespread economic sabotage and hardship for millions of smallholder farmers,” he said.

He further revealed that credible intelligence had exposed ongoing attempts by unscrupulous dealers to market inferior seeds to unsuspecting farmers.

According to him, NOPPMAN has resolved to take decisive actions and is now working closely with security agencies to track down and prosecute the culprits.

“Jafaru admitted to having the bad seeds in his possession, though he claimed he only sold the good ones. Since we’ve not verified the quality of the seeds, we’ve confiscated them pending laboratory testing,” Isa stated.

The NOPPMAN president added that the association is partnering with the Sokoto Agricultural Development Project and the National Horticultural Research Institute to conduct a thorough analysis of the seized seeds.

Depending on the test results, the seeds will either be released or form the basis of legal action against the suspect,” he insisted.

When asked about the extent of the loss suffered by farmers, Alhaji Isa noted that assessments were still ongoing, with detailed figures expected by July or August 2025.

He reassured members that NOPPMAN, “in collaboration with the federal and the state authorities, is committed to cleansing the onion farming ecosystem of bad actors and protecting genuine farmers.

“We are determined to identify and prosecute those involved in the sale of fake seeds. The government is also working tirelessly to support affected farmers and help them recover,” he emphasised.

 reports that this crackdown represents a major step toward restoring confidence in Nigeria’s onion sector and safeguarding the livelihoods of thousands of farmers nationwide.

Responding to the allegations, Jafaru said that he was not distributing the counterfeit seeds but merely had them in his possession.

He also denied being aware of NOPPMAN’s directive requiring individuals in possession of such products to submit them for certification.

However, Jafaru willingly agreed to face any legal consequences if found guilty of dealing in fake onion seeds.

He also denied being aware of NOPPMAN’s directive requiring individuals in possession of such products to submit them for certification.

However, Jafaru willingly agreed to face any legal consequences if found guilty of dealing in fake onion seeds.