Masaka’s ‘hidden market’ reveals an important biz place

The idea was conceived about 36 years ago. The elders and stakeholders of communities and settlements around Masaka, a sparingly populated city along the Keffi/Abuja expressway, agreed to merge the colonies of markets within the area into a single trading point. Friday was set aside as the tentative day benefiting communities who are predominantly farmers […]

The idea was conceived about 36 years ago. The elders and stakeholders of communities and settlements around Masaka, a sparingly populated city along the Keffi/Abuja expressway, agreed to merge the colonies of markets within the area into a single trading point. Friday was set aside as the tentative day benefiting communities who are predominantly farmers and petty traders will bring their goods for sale in the market. Few years on, the market expanded, especially with the proximity of Masaka to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Today, there is nothing one would not find in Masaka market, particularly on Fridays when traders from all over the country convey all kinds of goods to the market.

Alhaji Tanko Sai’du chairman of the yam section, told Weekly Trust, Thursday that the market came into existence in 1974 but has expanded with the teeming population of the FCT and neighbouring towns. Tanko Sai’du went further to say that in the early 70s, yam markets were located at different parts of Masaka.

“We get our yams from Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and Kaduna states. Over one million yam tubers are brought to the market every Friday and our customers come from some northern states and the South-south, South-west and South-east regions. There are over fifty yam sellers in the market. Most of us buy directly from the farmers. I buy directly from the farmers and sell over 5,000 tubers every Friday.”

Hauwa Idris, a customer said yam can be boiled, fried, roasted or pounded for consumption. “In the dry season, we peel, slice, dry and grind them into powder as yam flour for use”, she explained.

At another section of the market, some women selling yam bowls and plates of assorted shapes, sizes and capacities, told Weekly Trust that they get their wares from the popular Onitsha market and bring same to sell in Masaka market.

“Our customers come from surrounding villages of Masaka. Buyers equally come from other states and the FCT. Women buy plates and bowls awaiting festivities and entertainments, she said”.

Mr Samuel Mmhai, a crayfish seller, said he get crayfish from Oron in Cross-River State and his numerous customers came from Masaka, FCT and other places including surrounding villages. He disclosed that many people buy them at Masaka to retail in other markets and villages because crayfish is cheaper at Masaka market. Chisom Alexander, another crayfish seller, said he get his own from Ondo state and they come in bags.

Helen Audu from Wuse, disclosed that crayfish is used for preparing soup and `moi-moi`.

“Mothers often grind and mix it with pap for their children. This makes children grow stronger and healthier as they benefit from natural protein at infancy. When they are used to it, parents may not include sugar in their foods,” she said

At the market, men selling mortar and pestle are not left out. They buy the items from sculptors to sell at the market. Adamu mai turmi, one of the dealers, said many residents of the FCT go as far as the airport road for such items because they are aware of what is obtainable at the Masaka market.

“People call me mai turmi because in my youth, I was a wood-carver noted with the production of mortars. Now that I am older, I concentrate on buying them to retail and my customers come from Masaka, Keffi, Nyanya and Karu in the FCT. Food sellers use it for pounding yam and Akpu while newly married women use them for many things. We preserve mortar and pestle by rubbing main sania- oil extracted from cow,” he said.

An elderly man, Ibrahim Ado, from Jigawa state with 36 years experience in carving and designing of calabash for commercial and domestic use, said customers including Fulani women selling natural milk extracted from cows, while women in the villages, brewers and operators of bars that are into saling of local gin such as Burukutu and palm-wine buy medium and small sizes.

At the clothes sellers section, a man popularly known as Shaibu Commander, said he get his clothes from Kano and that customers in Masaka market get the products at a relatively cheaper rate because shops there are not exorbitant unlike in the FCT.

“Our customers come from Masaka, Mararaba, Lafia, Keffi, Akangwa, Wuse in the FCT and many other places and we make much sales whenever there are festivities or ceremonies,” he said.

When Weekly Trust asked whether the trader had served in the military, he said he has no such experience but people gave him the title “Commander” or “Commando” because whenever clothes arrive the market from Kano, he inspect them, pass comments and consent to the goods before all the clothes sellers can share them. His colleagues, Hassan Keffi and Ikechukwu Akuma, say with the collapsed state of the nation’s textiles, they buy large quantities of jeans and other clothes from Onitsha but only a few come from Jos to fulfil the desires of their customers from the immediate neighbourhood in Masaka, Mararaba, Karu and Nyanya in the FCT where majority of the traders live.

At the shoes section, a middle-age man who would not disclose his identity because he can be easily identified, said one can get all types of shoes in the market but the highly expensive Italian ones which sell above N20,000 are not always easy to go by.

“These types of shoes are always kept in shops where adequate security is assured. They are always provided on request. There are Hausa shoes in the market.  Those who specialise in these shoes buy them from Jos and Kano. But those who prefer locally made shoes go to the makers’ shop to buy them. Such shoes are not on display in the market because they are very expensive,” he said.

At the charcoal section, piles of sacks containing the product confront visitors and customers alike.  A woman who gave her name as Dorcas, said there are two categories of coal in the market and they are fetched from surrounding villages by felling trees and setting fire to the trunks. She said the larger ones sell for N1,200 per bag while the smaller ones  cost N1,000. She said following the collapse of electricity in Nigeria, many people use coal for cooking. She added that while all dry cleaners in the country rely mostly on coal and local pressing iron, smaller coals are used for aluminium smelting.

“Coal selling is a lucrative business during this period. On Fridays, I sell at least 20 bags.” she said.

Mr Titus Musa, a merchant at another section with heaps of cassava, said there are brought to the market mostly from states within the North Central and the Delta region.

“Those who cultivate cassava also come from the Delta area. After farming and harvesting, they return to their states. We hire and pay them for their labour when the season comes,” he explained. Cassava, he said, is used to make `akpu`, gari`, `lafun`, `abacha`, `kosain-rogo` and flour. “The dry season is noted for heavy consumption of gari. You can imagine how comfortable you will feel as a civil servant when you return home in the afternoon during the heat and soak gari in cold water and support it with dried fish,” he said.

He said people come from Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina and even from countries like Ghana and Niger to buy cassava from the Masaka market. Beef and mutton are available and cheaper at the Masaka market. A meat-seller disclosed that many people, including meat sellers at Mararaba market, buy their meat from Masaka. “Whatever you are looking for, you’ll find it here, as long as you’re not looking for human parts,” said a customer, laughing.