Smoked fish price dropped by at least 20 per cent at the Hadejia Fish Market in Jigawa State, in northern Nigeria.
Official statistics reveal that a jumbo-size carton of dried fish selling at between NGN 60,000 (USD 166) and NGN 70,000 (USD 193.7) last month, now sells for between NGN 40,000 (USD 110.7) and NGN 50,000 (USD 138.3), NTA reported.
Similarly, a medium size carton of fish that sold for NGN 30,000 (USD 83) three months ago, now sells for NGN 25,000 (USD 69), while the price of a small carton of fish dropped from NGN 20,000 (USD 55) to NGN 17,000 (USD 47).
Referring to the issue, Chairman of the Fish Sellers Association in Hadejia, Alhaji Haruna Shuaibu, attributed the drop to the increase in fishing activities as a result of rise in water level at the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin, producing tilapia, mackerel, catfish,among others.
“The Hadejia Jama’are river is our major source of fish, even though a large chunk of the commodity is being brought to the market from Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic,” the leader pointed out.
According to Shuaibu, over 200 merchants dispose of between 700 and 1000 cartons of smoked fish in the market weekly.
Meanwhile, the chairman said that a committee had been set up to ensure that only wholesome fish were sold to customers in the market.
He explained that the committee can take disciplinary measures against any trader selling rotten fish to customers.
“These measures include warning, suspension and even expulsion from the market, just as we do not hesitate to hand over any erring member to the police whenever criminal offences are committed,” he said.
