Business
Prices Of Cows, Goats Increase In Calabar
Prices of cows, goats and rams have increased drastically in Calabar, a survey has revealed.
Our correspondent who visited the Nasarawa Community Market in the outskirt of Calabar metropolis, reports that the animals were also scarce.
The investigation revealed that an average cow that used to be sold for between N90,000 and N110,000, now sells for between N150,000 and N180,000.
A bigger cow which was sold for between N120,000 and N140,000, now sells for between N200,000 and
N220,000.
A sizeable goat which was sold for between N7,000 and N9,000 now sells for between N10,000 and N13,000, while a bigger one which was sold for between N10,000 and N11,000 now sells for between N14,000 and N17,000.
Investigation also shows that a ram now sells for N25,000 no matter the size.
Malam Adamu Yunus, a trader at the market, told our correspondent that the increase in prices was due to the high cost of transportation. He disclosed that truck drivers complained of bad roads and had to pass through Enugu-Abakaliki road to get to Cross River.
Yunus explained that the roads leading to Cross River were in bad shape, particularly now that the rains were heavier.
A truck driver, Malam Musa Bichi, said he spent about two weeks from Maiduguri to Calabar, due to bad roads.
“We suffer too much on the way because of bad roads and many of our drivers do not want to come here again until the rainy season is over.
“The journey that would take not more than five days, now takes up to two weeks,” Bichi said.
He called on governments at all levels to do something about the roads to alleviate their sufferings.
Speaking on the rising price of goat, a restaurant operator in Calabar, Mrs Rose Edet, said she had since increased the price of a plate of food.
“I have to increase the price of my food from N400 to N500 a plate, ” she said.
A consumer, Mr Emmanuel Ekpo, who is also a trader at the Watt Market, said he was not aware of the increase.
“My own is to eat whatever they give to me and pay, if I am not satisfied, I request for extra plate.”
A housewife, Mrs Adama Inyang, said she leant of the increase some weeks ago when she went to buy food items.
“But there was nothing I could do than to buy according to what I had because this is Nigeria and we must survive.”
Efforts to get the views of the state Ministry of Commerce on the issue failed as no official was willing to talk.