In Delta, livestock business thrives

He has been doing the business in this area for over a decade. He told Daily Trust in Sapele that livestock business is good business in the South if not for the huge sums of money needed to buy the animals from the North.Falenge is one of the several northerners doing agro-business in the town. […]

He has been doing the business in this area for over a decade. He told Daily Trust in Sapele that livestock business is good business in the South if not for the huge sums of money needed to buy the animals from the North.
Falenge is one of the several northerners doing agro-business in the town. “We have good relationship here with Sapele people and even the local government officials. They come to buy these animals from us at good prices. So I will rather do this business here than do it up there,” he said.
A goat goes for between N12, 000 to N22, 000; while a ram can be sold between N35, 000 to N45, 000. A cow can go for between N100, 000 to N180, 000. “Prices are sometimes higher than these depending on the nature of the market and we sell many every day,” he said.  
Mohammed Sani also deals in the cattle business at the market. He said the cattle business is profitable in Sapele, adding that the little problem they have is with the security personnel on the road. Sani stressed that they make good business every day and he has now made the place his home.
Alhaji Abbah Yaro was born in Onitsha, Anambra State. His parents came from Kano State. The 50- year-old is a livestock dealer in Asaba, the state capital. He said the 2006 crisis in Anambra brought them to Delta State. The then Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, gave them the place they today converted into livestock market at Oko.
Yaro said it was after the crisis that they opened the livestock market in Asaba. The market in Asaba, a town separated from Onitsha by River Niger is now booming as buyers come from across Agbor, Iselekwu, Onitsha, Owerri, to buy animals.
 The animals, according to Abbah, come from Kano, Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto, Adamawa, Bauchi, Damaturu and other places in the North. Thousands of goats, sheep and cows are brought to the market on daily bases.
Idi Audu who conducted the reporter round the market said: “if more goats and sheep are not brought in two days, this market will be empty. These plenty goats that you see would finish in few days. People come here from different places to buy them.”
The cheapest goat in Asaba can go for N10, 000 and above, ram for N30, 000 and the cheapest price of cow starts from N120, 000.
Musa Alhaji, a cattle dealer at the Oko market, told this reporter that Delta State has provided enabling environment for livestock businesses to thrive, adding that government and people of Delta have welcomed them in the state. “We feel at home here,” he said.