Sixty-two years after its creation, the Minna fish market located at the heart of the town has continued to grow in leaps and bounds with sellers in the market narrating how lucrative fish business is.
According to the Chief Fish seller (Sarkin Kifi), Alhaji Nasiru Isha Yahaya, the market has been in existence for long and has contributed a lot to the revenue drive of the state.
The market, which generates over N200 million annually, gets members through families as most of them inherited the business from a senior member of the family who was in the business before. With about 760 members, they get their products from rivers and fish ponds around the state while customers patronize them from all over the country and beyond.
“Our members cut across the state, every junction where you see fish sellers they are all our members. The business is very lucrative because a lot of top people patronise us and we build a cordial relationship with many top government officials.
“We make between N20,000 and N50,000 daily for those selling on a high scale while those who sell on a small scale make N2,500 profit minimum daily,” Yahaya said.
According to the Chairman of Mobile Fish Sellers, Mal. Aminu Isiaka, they buy a kilogramme of fish at N800 and sell at N1000, adding that they get their stock from rivers and fish farmers.
He disclosed that their members have also started farming as the government invited them to be part of this year’s farming.
“Government is ready to help us access the Central Bank of Nigeria loan which is from N1 million to N10 million depending on the size of the farm.
To start the fish business, he said, one needed as low as N10,000 while some of their members started with N50,000.
The business, according to Sarkin Kifi has given them the opportunity to meet those who matter in the state and the country.
“We usually get customers from, Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi and even from outside Nigeria. We make over N200 million annually,” he said.
Some of the fish sellers in the market said if foreign fish can be banned from entering the country, that will help them and contribute more to the economy as the revenue will increase from what it is now.
