Meat Hits N10,000 Per Kg In Lagos

The rising value of meat in Lagos is placing strain on butchers, with a kilogramme now promoting for between N9,000 and N10,000, up from N7,000 to N7,500 about 4 months in the past.

The ​‌‍‌‍‍⁠⁠‍‌​‍‍‌⁠‌‍‌​Lagos State Butchers Association attributed the rise to overseas trade fluctuations, excessive transportation prices and losses incurred whereas shifting cattle to markets.

Alhaji Wasiu Akande, the affiliation’s Deputy State Chairman, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

Akande stated the rising value of buying cattle and transporting them to Lagos had made the meat commerce more and more costly.

“Meat is more expensive now. A kilogramme of meat is between N9,000 and N10,000, whereas about four months ago, it was sold for between N7,000 and N7,500,” he stated.

He defined that overseas trade fluctuations affected cattle costs as a result of some livestock sellers sourced their animals from neighbouring international locations.

According to him, the belief that almost all cattle consumed in Nigeria are bred in northern Nigeria doesn’t replicate the extent of the nation’s dependence on livestock from neighbouring international locations.

“People always assume that the cows come from the North. The ones we breed in the North are not even up to 10 per cent of what we consume in Nigeria,” he stated.

Akande listed Mali, Côte d’Ivoire and Niger among the many international locations supplying cattle to the Nigerian market.

He stated overseas trade actions influenced the costs charged by livestock sellers when promoting cattle to Nigerian consumers.

“When the dealers want to sell the cows to us, they bring out their calculators to convert their money to naira,” he stated.

Beyond the price of buying cattle, Akande recognized transportation as one other main issue contributing to rising meat costs.

He stated transporting cattle over lengthy distances uncovered the animals to emphasize and elevated the danger of loss of life, with the ensuing losses including to the price of the surviving animals.

“Some cattle die during transportation from the North to Lagos, with the losses ultimately reflected in the prices of the other cows that survived,” he stated.

Akande additionally attributed rising transportation prices to elevated diesel costs, noting that almost all trailers used to maneuver cattle ran on diesel.

He stated the affiliation had met with the minister liable for livestock issues a few month earlier to debate challenges related to cattle transportation.

To tackle the issue, Akande appealed to the Federal Government to speed up railway rehabilitation and take into account devoted cargo rail providers for transporting cattle.

“We want to appeal for our own cargo rail to be able to bring in cows. It will make the cows healthier, reduce their stress, and give them good market value,” he stated.

He recalled that cargo trains have been used to move cattle within the Nineteen Sixties and Seventies, describing the system as quicker and fewer disturbing for the animals.

According to him, the collapse of the rail system from the Nineteen Eighties elevated reliance on trailers for livestock transportation.

Akande stated highway transportation additionally uncovered livestock sellers to interstate fees in states alongside the routes to Lagos, together with Niger, Oyo and Ogun.

He stated these extra bills contributed to the ultimate value of cattle and, consequently, the worth of meat.

“Nobody can stop a cargo rail, so it is still the best option,” he stated.

The affiliation’s deputy chairman stated the seasonal discount in cattle costs in the course of the wet season, notably round June and July, was often non permanent and didn’t present lasting aid.

He added that cattle breeds differed in dimension and market worth, with butchers usually preferring bigger animals to draw clients.