Fish farmers and sellers in Maiduguri, Borno State, have praised security operatives for ensuring safer access to fishing locations.
Speaking with DCL Hausa, Ahmad Alhaji Ali, one of the chairman of a fish market in Maiduguri, acknowledged the improved security situation as a major factor in the availability of fish and the subsequent drop in prices.
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“There is a difference now because before, the high rate of insecurity stopped us from conducting our fish business. It was a major setback for us. But now, Alhamdulillah, we can go out to get fish,” Ali said in Hausa.
He added that fishermen and traders now collaborate closely with security operatives to ensure safe passage.
“Anywhere we go, the security operatives are aware. We don’t leave without their permission,” he stated.
According to him, the improved security has opened up multiple sources for fish supplies, including local rivers, neighboring countries like chad, and home-based fish farming.
Yahaya Muhammad, a fish seller in Maiduguri acknowledged the reduction in prices.
He said, “Before, a cat fish (Karfasa) was sold at ₦3,000 to ₦4,000, but now you can get a big one for as low as ₦1,500”.
However customers interviewed expressed a mixed reactions.
While customers have welcomed the reduced fish prices, some believe they should be even lower.
“The prices have dropped but not as much as we wanted or expected. Since fish is now readily available, the prices should have decreased further,” said Hadiza Bishara, a regular customer.
Abubakar Muhammad, another customer, expressed satisfaction with the current prices, noting, “Fish is now more affordable than meat.”
Meanwhile, dry fish sellers also reported increased availability and affordability of fish but raised concerns over the rising costs of processing materials such as onions and charcoal.
Florence Flaxy, a dry fish seller, attributed the increased fish supply to recent flooding.
“We no longer have to depend solely on pond-reared fish, which were more expensive because of the cost of feeds,” she explained.
However, she lamented the soaring prices of essentials like charcoal and onions. “One bag of charcoal now costs ₦10,000. We hope that once these costs reduce, everyone will feel the change,” Flaxy added.
Borno State, historically renowned as a key hub for fish production in Nigeria, is now experiencing a resurgence in its fish trade.
