Some butchers in Dutse, Jigawa State, have said they plan to increase their slaughter fees during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration due to rising transportation costs.
The butchers expressed concern that the trend would negatively affect their operations at slaughter slabs and mobile services. They spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Dutse.
A check at the Dutse abattoir showed that the cost of animal slaughter and meat processing had already increased by about 200 per cent compared to the previous festive season.
Currently, 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.
The Head Butcher, Ado Sakin-Fawa, said they expected 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 because more families had the money 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.
He added that butchers providing home slaughter services might demand higher charges to cover 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, the current 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 his 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.
