X-raying Jigawa’s Frog market

Frog business was introduced in Hausa land by some  groups from the middle belt and the southern part of the country, who usually travel to Hadejia town in Jigawa State for the fish business. But in the process they discovered that Hadejia is endowed with the type of frogs consumed in their various localities. The […]

Frog business was introduced in Hausa land by some  groups from the middle belt and the southern part of the country, who usually travel to Hadejia town in Jigawa State for the fish business. But in the process they discovered that Hadejia is endowed with the type of frogs consumed in their various localities.

The Tivs  are among those that patronize  Hadejia Fish market in large numbers,  but upon the discovery of the availability of the type of frog needed in their local market, they started hunting for the reptile and selling same to their fellow Tiv that were in the market for fish business.

Upon increase in supply and influx of buyers, the Tiv saw it as expedient to incorporate the indigenous people of Hadejia in order to begin the process of formalizing the formation of frog market in the town.

The market did not come into being without some hitches, and stigma played a key role that almost shattered the dream of  those struggling to see to the  establishment of the market.

Frog traders, who had started as squatters in Jan Bulo, the popular Hadejia fish market were chased out from the market leading to their relocation outside Jan Bulo premises. But they had to abandon  their new location again, after discovering that it is a water logged area which made it impossible to operate from during the rainy season.

Frustration due to the unwholesome treatment made the business so unattractive to the natives, but the help of one of the fish dealers in the market, who volunteered the frontage of his house pending when a better alternative is found, kept the spirit of the market alive.

When it  became apparent that the  weekly temporary market is carrying thrice of its capacity on every market day, this made it necessarily again for them to go out hunting for a bigger place that can accommodate them comfortably.

Search for new accommodation took them to the premises of Hadejia/Jamare River Basin Authority site, otherwise refered to as Gidan Gona. Though the new site is still temporary but more spacious than all the previous places, once the market is occupied.

Challenges in citing the market had never ceased for once, because even the newly secured site in Gidan Gona was not an exception, as the management of a Jumma’at mosque located adjacent to the new market, kicked against sale of frog by their place of worship.

They later let go, after realizing that the business is only on Sundays and by noon the market closes.

Although, both sexes patronize the market, the women folk constitute the majority in terms of buyers, as many of them prefer dealing in frogs than fish,  considering the demand back home.

Ibrahim Alluwa  was the first among the natives of Hadejia to embrace the new business, after the Tivs sought for his intervention for the purpose of introducing the trade in the area.

While narrating his experience at the beginning of the business, Alluwa said the Tivs saw the need for a  frog market in the town, and persisted  in ensuring the market comes into being, considering its potential to feed their local market down home.

Despite being an elder and a fish dealer in Jan Bulo, Alluwa  could not influence decisions in their favour, therefore  the hope of securing a place for  the  frog market remained a mirage.

Alluwa said before they got their present market, he had to covert the frontage of his house to a  frog market because the space given to them outside Jan Bullo is uninhabitable, especially when it rains.

His family was not spared as they suffered their own form of stigmazation, his children were called names in schools and public places, but despite this  it is still a temporary place and  the market operates without hitches.

“The biggest challenge we had at the time of establishing the market in its present location, was how to convince the muslim  community around the area, because the new Market will be situated between Gidan Gona and a Jumma’at (Friday) Mosque.

“But after we had a dialogue over the matter and told them that the market will not affect Friday prayers because it will only operate  once a week, being every Sunday, they reasoned with our position.

“We are appealing to government to come to our aid by giving us a permanent place for our market. Government generates a lot of revenue from us. Every business man pays N500 to the government every market day.”

Cecilia Kure, is the chairperson of frog buyers that patronize Hadejia market every Sunday, said there are individual customers that buy  frogs for as much as N600,000.

The frogs are sold as stick frog and those arranged in a carton, though, she said frog customers, who are mostly women prefer to buy the smoked stick frog.

In each stick there are about 40 smoked frogs and she added that  they only went for the stick frog, because that is what their customers back  home wanted.

“Over eight, 18 seater buses with a  full load of smoked frogs  leave Hadejia market every sunday for  Benue state. Although, it is not only the frogs  that we purchase, but we also buy smoked fish and bush meat.

“I buy about 200 sticks of smoked frogs. Depending on ones capital, some buy as much as that of N600,000. In Benue state we supply Gboko town and its environs.”

Ann Asen, another frog trader that travels from Benue to Hadejia every week ,said  she buys a stick of frog at the cost of N800 and sells  same at N1,300 back home.

They only spent a night in Hadejia as they arrived Saturday and by noon the following day, they are ready for going back to Benue adding, the frog market  opens as early as 6 am and by noon it closes.

According to her, in the past they used to go as far as Yola in Adamawa state to source for the reptile, but  they have shifted to Hadejia market. We get as much as we need  from the new market, we also transport our goods in the buses that we use in travelling, and sometime, we patronize 911 trucks.

“In the past we also visit Kano market but because of recession we had to limit ourselves to Hadejia market. 

On security, Ann said, “We have never had any security challenge either in the market or on the road. We thank the Almighty for His Mercy.”

Gabriel Uche Udeh, a frog trader who only patronizes Yan-lemo frog market in Kano state, said  he came to Hadejia to share experiences on how best to build the new market.

In Kano, the market operates from 6 am to 10 pm everyday, but here it is only once a week, Udeh said, “there are potentials for the market to grow, there are goods on ground and buyers are also trooping in.”

Speaking to this reporter, the Vice Chairman of the Frog Dealers Association, said when the business started, they were unnecessarily stigmatized, but now they are not only getting more people as dealers, but even the number among the natives that eat frog is increasing by the day.

“I have never tasted  it but I can assure you there are a lot of people, who are indigenes that make their meals with frog meat. Some fry it while some prepare  stew with it.”

The Secretary of the association, Ali Usman, said the market started about seven years ago, though, frog farming was once introduced in the state by the former governor of the state, Saminu Turaki. But after he left power the project collapsed.

He explained that the frog business re-emerged in the state as a result of many traders that have started coming to Hadejia for fish business, and he said, they were fascinated after discovering the availability of frogs in the area, hence, the beginning of its demand.

“About 4,000 people are present during the weekly market. About 2 million pieces of smoked frogs are also supplied weekly. Majority of the business men that patronize  the market come from Benue and western states while few come from the east to also trade in the commodity.”

Moses Batur is the Treasurer of the frog dealers association. He said in the past he usually goes from Kano to hunt and buy frogs ,for the purpose of supplying the already established Kano market

“I relocated to Hadejia from Kano to see  how we can establish the Hadejia frog Market. Already potential customers are on ground, all that is needed is the commodity which is equally available. We therefore  struggled for the establishment of the market.