The Nation Newspaper

Tag: fish market

  • Christmas: Fish market thrives in Kano as cost of beef, broilers skyrockets

    Christmas: Fish market thrives in Kano as cost of beef, broilers skyrockets

    The fish market in Sabon Gari, Kano city, witnessed a surge in activity on Christmas Day as high prices of cows, goats, and broilers forced many residents to opt for more affordable alternatives.

    Mrs. Vero Femi, a shopper at the market on Wednesday, revealed she initially planned to buy beef for her Christmas celebration but was deterred by the prohibitive cost. 

    “Even chicken and goat meat were beyond my budget,” she said. “I had to settle for fish instead.”

    A visit to the market by The Nation around noon found various fish types on display, with catfish and tilapia among the most sought-after. 

    Customers bought fish not only for personal use but also to prepare pepper soup for sale at local cooling spots.

    Umar Haruna, a 21-year-old fish trader, said the festive season often sees greater demand for beef and mutton, but he was amazed by the unexpected patronage for fish this Christmas.

    Haruna added that his fish business has been his primary source of income, helping fund his education.

    “This is an unusual but welcome boost for the fish trade,” he remarked.

  • Tamuno reaffirms AICL’s commitment to Kado Fish Market development

    Tamuno reaffirms AICL’s commitment to Kado Fish Market development

    The Group Managing Director (GMD) of Abuja Investment Company Limited (AICL), Dr. Maureen Tamuno, has reaffirmed the company’s commitment to redevelop Kado Fish Market.

    Dr. Tamuno disclosed this during her visit to the market yesterday in Abuja, where she engaged with key stakeholders, including the market association and traders, to assess the market’s current state.

    She highlighted the strategic significance of Kado Fish Market, which serves as a vital center for fish-related commerce in Abuja, drawing customers from six to seven neighboring states.

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    During her tour, Tamuno observed various operations, such as the use of cold rooms for fish preservation, which are crucial for sustaining livelihoods and supporting the local economy.

    Recognising the urgent need for redevelopment, she pointed out the health risks posed by the market’s aging infrastructure.

    She stressed the importance of a collaborative approach involving both the market association and traders to ensure that the redevelopment is carried out in a phased and

  • Japan leads in fish market

    • Beats Norway

    Japanese fish exporters have taken over the nation’s market, hitherto dominated by Norwegian mackerel.

    Investigation revealed that there is a lull in the sale of Norwegian mackerel in the market based on its high price.

    Findings revealed that Norway mackerel exports to Nigeria have declined by 50 per cent because of its high price and the stiff competition introduced by the Japanese traders.

    For instance, it was gathered that the Norwegian fish exporters sell for $1,500 per ton while the Japanese sold for $500 per ton.

    According to the Federal Department of Fisheries, importation of fish, especially the mackerels, sardinella, hake, croakers and herrings have remained an increasing phenomenon.

    It said the import was conservatively estimated at 0.7 million tons.

    The exporters lamented that prices of Pacific mackerel from Japan had forced prices down by a boom in imports to Nigeria, Ghana and Egypt.

    According to the Chief Operating Officer of Nowaco, Katja Nowak Nielsen, demand has shifted to Pacific mackerel imported from Japan since June, this year.

    She added that Norwegian exporters were looking for markets in South Korea and smaller Southeast Asian countries,where their catches can be sold.

    She said: “The situation in Nigeria is problematic; because of currency rates, Atlantic mackerel is not really affordable to the average person. For now, there is a lull in sales for Norwegian mackerel. When Norwegian firms were selling to Nigeria, Ghana and Egypt earlier in 2017, prices were roughly between $1,300 and $1,500 per tons.

    “The Pacific mackerel are selling at some $500 per ton cheaper. These are smaller sizes, with a slightly lower fat content and so are generally more affordable.”

    The battle to regain the fish market in Nigeria started in October last year when the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) organised a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos to address the challenges they were facing in the country.

    The council complained that Norway had been exporting fish to Nigeria market since 1890 without problem.

    According to the council’s  NSC Director for Central and  West Africa, Mr. TrondKostveit, Norwegian exporters were  looking into more specify areas in the importation of fish in  the country.

    He said they would partner the Department of Fisheries for more cooperation with Nigeria importers.

    However, the Director, Federal Department of Fisheries, Mr. Mohammed Muazu, who was represented by Deputy Director of Fisheries, Mrs. Adepegba Olabisi, at the forum noted that fish was the most highly traded food commodity in the world.

    Muazu said: “The relative low prices of fish compared to other sources of animal protein except pork, has being nutritionally superior to other meats.

    “It is common knowledge that there is a wide gap between the demand and supply of fish in Nigeria, hence importation of fish, especially the mackerels, sardinella, hake, croakers and herrings have remained an increasing phenomenon as it is use to bridge the gap.’’ The trade is conspicuously dominated is conservatively estimated at 0.7 million tons”

  • Two killed as gunmen attack Akwa Ibom fish market

    Two killed as gunmen attack Akwa Ibom fish market

    •Police: only one woman died

    Two women were reportedly killed last Saturday and scores injured when gunmen, suspected to be militants, attacked a fish market at Itu-Itam Modern Market, popularly called T-Junction, in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

    Goods worth millions of naira were stolen in the attack.

    The Saturday attack was the second in the last three months.

    An eyewitness and motorcyclist, Mr. Moses Philips, told our correspondent that the militants, who wore military camouflage, arrived the market through a nearby river on two speedboats with machine guns and other weapons.

    He said the gunmen shot sporadically into the air to scare the residents.

    According to him, the hoodlums blocked the roads and other links to the T-Junction Market before looting the market.

    The eyewitness said most of those injured were not hit by stray bullets but while running for safety.

    He said one of the deceased was entering the market when a bullet hit her in the head.

    The eyewitness added that a bullet pierced the other woman’s thigh.

    She reportedly died on the way to hospital.

    Police spokesperson Cordelia Nwawe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), confirmed the attack but denied the number of casualties.

    She said an elderly woman was hit by a stray bullet, adding that she died in hospital.

    The spokesperson said the police command had plans to curtail militant attacks.

    She said the command also contacted other commands to block their waterways against militants’ infiltration into Akwa Ibom.

    Nwawe said: “No arrest has been made. When you say scores injured; that is not true. A stray bullet hit an elderly woman and she died in hospital. As soon as the incident happened, the police were quickly mobilised and repelled the attacks.

    “This is a warning to Nigerians that if you hear any attack by robbers, do not run; lie flat on the ground to avoid stray bullets.”

  • Gunmen attack Akwa Ibom fish market

    •Goods worth millions stolen  •Several injured but death

    Gunmen suspected to be robbers yesterday injured scores of people at a fish market in Itu-Itam Modern Market, popularly called T-Junction, in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

    Goods worth millions of naira were stolen in the attack.

    The robbery is coming a day after new Police Commissioner Muritala Mani arrived in the state.

    Mani took over from Gabriel Achong, who retired after the mandatory 35 years of service.

    Although nobody died in the attack, our reporter learnt that two persons, whose names could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report last night, were injured from gunshots and were rushed to a hospital.

    An eyewitness, who spoke in confidence for security reasons, said: “The 12 robbers invaded the area in three boats and shot sporadically into the air. They dispersed the passersby while they looted the market.”

    The victims, it was gathered, were rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Itu.

    The police were said to have arrived late on the scene, as the robbers had escaped.

    Police spokesman Cordelia Nwawe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), confirmed the incident.

    She said: “I know the gunmen, suspected to be armed robbers, actually were at the market, which is a fish market. They came through the Opebi waterway at T-Junction to Ibeno boundary at Opebi waterside. They shot sporadically into the air and collected some valuables. But no life was lost.

    “I learnt a young man was struck by a stray bullet, but he is being treated. I can assure you that the police are on their trail. We will get back to you once we have enough information from our personnel on the waterways or the creeks.”

     

     

  • Africa has no thriving fish market

    Africa has no lucrative market, Prof Samuel Zelibe of the Delta State University (DELSU) in Abraka, has said. He was delivering the 42nd inaugural lecture of the university at its 1000-seater auditorium.

    Speaking on: Fish: The wealth in water, Zelibe said despite lack of an adequate regulatory and growth-promoting framework for aquaculture industry, the implementation of the Special Growth Enhancement Support scheme of the Federal Government for fisheries and aquaculture had helped to provide cheap seeds and fertilisers to small holder fish farmers.

    The scheme, he said, has also improved productivity in fertiliser value chain, observing that the absence of viable market for fish products was the constraint undermining efforts to boost the market.

    Zelibe, a professor of Fisheries and Aquaculture, said despite the huge water space the nation is endowed, importation of marine products thrived until when the government introduced the scheme to unlock the wealth in the nation’s waters.

    He said despite having over 600 species of edible fish, Nigeria was yet to explore its ornamental fishes that could fetch it a huge income.

    Zelibe said the country did not have sustainable professional support scheme that could enable youths practice fishing profitably and boost self-employment.

    He advocated the need for policies to make aquaculture sector vibrant to make the country dominate fish market in Africa.