Traders struggle for space as ram supply surges in Abuja markets

Ram traders in Abuja have raised concerns over inadequate operating space as supply of livestock surged ahead of the Eid-el-Adha celebration.

Some traders who spoke with Abuja Metro said the number of ram dealers arriving in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) this year has increased compared to previous years, leading to congestion in major livestock markets.
They attributed the development to the high cost of transporting animals to southern states such as Lagos, Port Harcourt and Warri, forcing many traders to limit their business operations to Abuja.
A trader from Birnin Magaji in Zamfara State, Rabiu Sani, said the cost of transporting rams in a Diana truck from Zamfara to Abuja had risen from N300,000 last year to about N600,000 this year.
According to him, transporting the animals to Lagos or Ibadan now costs about N3 million per trailer.
The increase in the number of traders is coming at a time when part of the Abuja main livestock market, usually occupied by visiting traders during Sallah, has been allocated for the construction of permanent rearing sheds.
Abuja Metro observed that several of the sheds had already been completed, while others were still under construction.
One of the affected traders, Musa Ahmad from Kirikasamma in Jigawa State, said many seasonal traders were forced to operate from the parking area of the market’s administrative block after paying certain fees.
Another trader, Ribadu Kargidi, said the limited space available could only conveniently accommodate one trailer load of rams despite multiple supplies arriving from his community.
Meanwhile, the Director of Information at the FCTA Agriculture Secretariat, Malam Zakari Aliyu, said provisions had been made to accommodate visiting traders within the market.
He, however, disclosed that officials of the secretariat would visit the market to investigate complaints surrounding the allocation of the rearing sheds.

المصدر: Daily Trust (NG)