Some dealers in cattle business in Nigeria have lamented low patronage following rise in prices of cows.
They wondered if Nigerians still value beef meat as they complained of a significant shortfall in demand for the livestock.
The cattle traders explained that the removal of fuel subsidy has been having negative impacts on the prices of cows, disclosing that the animals now sell for N1 million and beyond.
Over the years, cattle prices in the market have seen a sharp rise.
Traders attributed the surge to various factors including inflation, the rising cost of transportation, and the ongoing insecurity that disrupts the flow of cattle from the northern parts of the country to the markets.
One of the cattle traders at Keffi Cattle Market, Salihu Muhammed, identified some factors responsible for high cost of price for cows, saying that they included fuel price hike, high cost of transportation fare, insecurity and general inflation in the country.
Checks by The Point revealed that for decades, the Keffi Cattle market has been a hub of trade, drawing buyers and sellers from across Nigeria.
Known for its diverse offerings, the market does not only deal in cattle. From goats to sheep, it has long been a vital hub for livestock trade, catering for the needs of buyers from various parts of Nigeria.
The full tale of the economy of Nasarawa State where Keffi Cattle market is situated will be incomplete without the mention of the market that accounts for a significant share of the state’s agribusiness income.
Located in the outskirts of Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State since 3rd September 2013, ‘Kara’ otherwise known as the Keffi Cattle market has become a melting point of agribusiness.
The market, situated on the boundary of Keffi and Karu, the last two local government areas before the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, is not only for cattle breeders but for poultry farmers and sellers of staple food produce among others.
In an interview, Muhammed, who owns over a hundred cows at the market, said, “We have any kind of animals that you can find in the Keffi Cattle market. We have cows, rams, chicken, goats, and other animals.
He said big cows now sell from N1 million and above, saying the development has impacted sales negatively.
“The issue of fuel subsidy removal has made things become very expensive. For example, you will carry your cattle from Kachia, Kaduna State to this market, the cost of transport makes the cows sell higher.
Before subsidy was removed, if you come to this market with N250,000, you will go back home with a very big cow but now, if you get N800,000, you won’t get a big cow unless you have N1 million and above. This is as a result of fuel subsidy removal,” Muhammed said.
He added, “Even many of our customers that used to come and buy beef from those who kill these cows no longer come to buy. At one point, we were even wondering if people had stopped eating cows. But we later discovered that the hardship in the country has discouraged people from eating beef as they used to and people no longer do ceremonies like before. Whenever they go for low-key celebrations, they don’t come to buy cows.”
Giba, another cow trader lamented, saying, “Everywhere we go to buy these cows, they are very expensive. We go to Yobe, it is costly, we go to Bauchi, it is expensive. Even the transport fare is not helping matters at all. Before, we used to go with small money and we will buy cows but now, we have to go to the places we buy from with millions of naira.
“Sometimes, the prices fall and some other time, they rise. We used to buy small cows for N350, 000 to N450, 000 but now, it sells between N700, 000 and N1million. Sales have dropped because of this and it is affecting us. I have children in school and there is no money to keep up with my responsibilities as their father,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the traders have called on the Nasarawa State government to come to their assistance by ensuring that the market is secure.
Despite paying revenue to the local government authorities, the cow sellers said brigands do invade their market to steal cows because there is no fortified security team in place.
Muhammed pointed out that “Security remains a concern at Keffi Cattle market. Despite efforts by the union, thefts are increasing. Now, vigilance is key for all traders at the market.
“The chairman of the union invited all the dealers and marketers on security matters. That is why anytime anyone carries stolen cows to this market, once you enter the market, they will apprehend you. If you bring any cow, there is a security team that will investigate where you got the cow.”
He said, “There are many things we want the government to do in this market and one of them is erecting a fence. Insecurity is one of the challenges we are having and lack of access roads to big vehicles. We need government’s interventions. As large as this market is, there is no single office built by the government.”
Other challenges confronting the cattle traders are inadequate infrastructure, poor sanitation and lack of basic amenities like clean water. These challenges have made daily operations tough for the traders. Many believed the market is being neglected despite its importance to the economy.
