Some butchers in Dutse, Jigawa State, have expressed concern over rising transportation fares, saying the development may affect the cost of slaughter and meat processing services during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
They said the trend would negatively affect the operations of slaughter slabs and mobile services.
A cross-section of the butchers stated this in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Dutse.
A NAN check at the Dutse abattoir showed that the cost of animal slaughter and meat processing had increased by about 200 per cent compared to the previous festive season.
The slaughter fee for a ram ranges from N5,000 and above per head, while a bull costs N20,000 and above, depending on its size.
Meat processing, including packaging and roasting, previously cost about N5,000 for goats and N10,000 for rams per head, respectively.
The Head Butcher, Ado Sakin-Fawa, said they anticipated a significant rise in fees this season due to the increasing cost of transportation.
He said the situation was more favourable during the previous Eid-el-Kabir season, as more families had the financial capacity to afford their services.
Sakin-Fawa said the anticipated increase was largely driven by rising transportation costs across neighbouring communities and markets.
“Transport fares to places such as Sabuwar Kasuwa, Shuwarin and Wudil have increased significantly in recent months.
“As a result, butchers and meat processors now spend more on movement and other operational expenses,” he said.
Sakin-Fawa added that butchers providing home slaughter services might demand higher charges to offset the rising transport costs.
Another butcher, Ahmad Mai-Nama, described the situation as uncertain and economically challenging.
He said that although there were no fixed charges for slaughter and other services, prevailing economic realities would push costs higher.
“This year, charges may largely depend on the prevailing economic situation and the cost of transportation,” he said.
He lamented that business activities had remained low ahead of the festive period.
Also, Babannan Abdullahi, a dried meat processor, projected an increase in processing charges due to the soaring price of petrol and other ingredients.
Abdullahi Awaisu, a suya spot operator, said charges for the services had increased due to the inflationary trend in the country.
He, however, expressed optimism that the economic situation would improve and enable them to enjoy better patronage.
(NAN)
