A devastating fire outbreak has destroyed 2,275 bags of onions valued at about ₦56.8 million in Kojiyo community, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, leaving farmers counting heavy losses. Reports circulating with a ₦500 million figure were not supported by the sources reviewed; widely cited estimates put the loss at ₦56.8 million.
The fire reportedly broke out on Friday afternoon and raged for nearly seven hours, razing about 65 traditional onion storage huts before it was brought under control. No lives were lost, but the destruction severely affected farming households that depended on the stored produce for income and survival.
According to the National President of the Nigerian Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN), Aliyu Isah Maitasamu, each affected hut contained roughly 35 bags of onions, with each bag estimated at about ₦25,000. He said the cause of the fire was still under investigation.
Affected farmers described the incident as catastrophic, warning that many families have lost their means of livelihood. Community leaders have appealed to the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency and the National Emergency Management Agency for urgent intervention and relief support.
While industry officials said the quantity destroyed may not significantly disrupt onion prices nationwide, the disaster has raised renewed concerns about the vulnerability of rural storage facilities and the risks facing agricultural producers in northern Nigeria.
Post a Comment