Bush Meat Dealers Decry Low Patronage

Bush meat dealers in parts of Rivers State have decried non-patronage by their customers as the rumoured Ebola virus was linked to some wild animals.
Some of the dealers at the popular bush meet market at Omagwa in Ikwerre local Government area, said that the meat they sale for N5,000 now go for as low as N3,000 with no offer from buyers.
According to them, “customers are afraid to buy bush meat now due to fear arising from the Ebola virus”.
They wondered why such rumour could affect their business while the virus was yet to be dictated in the state.
The traders revealed that the situation has brought a level of untold hardship to them as they barely make enough sales that could enable them take care of their families.
Our reporter gathered that if urgent steps are not taken, it may snowball into major market crisis for bush meat dealers.
They have also called on the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and other relevant bodies to carry out a sensitization programme on the need to strengthen their business as well as others, saying that their trade is at risk.
The Tide further gathered that bush meat consumers now settle for beef and goat meat as the virus was not yet linked to those.
As at the time of filing in this report, it was learnt that the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Port Harcourt City Council, Hon. Charles Paul Ejekwu, has threatened to shut down all abattoir in the area if they fail to take necessary measures to maintain proper hygiene in the slaughter.
It would be recalled that some bush meat dealers in the state had sometime last week, announced the sharp drop in their business due to the possibility of contracting the dreaded Ebola disease.