A devastating fire has swept through the Kojiyo community in Sokoto State, destroying 2,275 bags of onions and fueling fears of a nationwide price surge.
The blaze, which tore through 65 traditional storage huts in the Goronyo Local Government Area, lasted for several hours on Friday afternoon.
While no casualties were reported, the inferno has left local farming households in financial ruin.
Aliyu Isah Maitasamu, National President of the Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN), confirmed the loss on Tuesday, valuing the destroyed produce at approximately ₦56.8 million.
He noted that the storage structures constructed from highly flammable dry grass and stalks are particularly vulnerable during the current heatwave.
As investigations continue, the massive loss is being viewed as a significant blow to the local economy ahead of the next planting cycle.
Although NOPPMAN suggests the fire may not trigger a nationwide supply crisis, the local impact is devastating.
For farmers like Alhaji Abdullahi S. Rima, who lost 210 bags, the destruction was total.
“Everything I stored has been burnt,” he lamented, describing the event as a monumental loss.
The tragedy has left many families in a state of immediate food insecurity.
Nura Arzika Magaji, who lost 70 bags, explained that these stores served as his family’s primary source of income and sustenance.
“We sell gradually to take care of our families, but now we have nothing to eat,” he said.
As residents worry about the long-term recovery of the local market, association leaders are calling on SEMA and NEMA for urgent relief.
However, SEMA spokesperson Abdullahi Ghani noted that the agency has yet to receive an official report of the disaster.
“We are not aware, but if there is any report from the local government, SEMA will carry out an assessment,” he said.
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