‘I live on fishing in Abuja’

One of such persons is 28-year-old Sa’adu Iliya, from Jigawa State, who was spotted at a stream in Zone 1, Abuja, fishing in the early hours of Saturday and this reporter sought his audience.Beaming with smiles as he emerged from the stream, with a bagful of fish, he told this reporter how fishing is fetching […]

One of such persons is 28-year-old Sa’adu Iliya, from Jigawa State, who was spotted at a stream in Zone 1, Abuja, fishing in the early hours of Saturday and this reporter sought his audience.
Beaming with smiles as he emerged from the stream, with a bagful of fish, he told this reporter how fishing is fetching him about N5, 000 daily.
Asked how he sells the fish since he lacks storage facilities to preserve them, he pointed to two young men who stood a few metres away from where he was fishing as the bulk buyers of his daily catch.
“I don’t have to go far to get buyers for the fish I catch.  These men are always here in the morning to buy them. As you can see, they are waiting for me to bring out all the ones I have caught today and pay me for their worth.”
Looking satisfied, Iliya said that he feeds his 3 children and wife who live in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, from what he makes from his fishing occupation.
When asked on his methods of fishing, he said: “I set my fishing traps late in the evening and come early in the morning to check them. I put wheat grains in the fishing net because this is what attracts the fish to the traps. I catch big and small ones and they are in different species, which I sell to my prospective buyers.”
On the dangers involved in fishing, he said that as an experienced fisherman, he knows how to move with the water tides and maintains his balance without getting drowned. On the possibilities of encountering dangerous reptiles like alligators and crocodiles, he chuckles as if to say one needs not to fear what one enjoys doing.
“Well, I am used to it and I can tell you that I just saw an alligator now but with the protection of God such creatures do us no harms.”
One of the buyers of Iliya’s fish, Abdullahi Mohammed, said that he prefers to buy directly from the fisherman because it is cheaper and one is sure of getting the fish fresh as they come from the stream.
“Buying from him saves me the cost of about N3, 000 per basket. There is no middle man involved in our transaction so all unnecessary profit seeking men are removed. Also because the fisherman is not based here, he prefers those who can buy the fish and pay him.”
Mohammed said he fries the fish and sells to customers at a spot in Zone 4, Wuse, Abuja, adding: “I am 30 years old and I have 2 children. I have been buying fish from him for some months now and I enjoy the business because it has helped me to be self reliant. When I came to Abuja last year, I was jobless but with this fish selling business I am comfortable.”
Adamu Ciroma, a resident of Wuye, said that he buys the fish from Iliya and sells them to food vendors, adding: “I make my own gain as well and it has been so far so good trading in fishes.”