How Minna fishmongers swim against tide to brisk biz

Established 62 years ago, the Minna Fish Market, located in the heart of the city, has continued to grow against all odds.

When Usman Aminu, 25, started his fish business at the Mobile Fish Market in Minna, Niger State capital as an apprentice, little did he know that not only would he earn a decent living, but also be a blessing in the lives of others.

Starting as an apprentice seller at the market 15 years ago, Aminu can now boast of regular income, fend for his young family, and even sponsor himself through school.

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“I learnt the trade for five years, as it is not a business one can venture into without proper knowledge of where to buy, what to buy, and solid know-how of ways to sell the goods,” he said.

Aminu told Daily Trust Saturday that the training afforded him the opportunity to know how much to buy, and how to cost the wares, so as not to run at a loss.

“I started my business with N20,000 ten years ago, but now my business is worth much more,” he revealed.

According to Aminu, the business can be quite lucrative, especially when a trader has acquired proper training, adding that his smallest daily take-home, even on a dull market day, is N5,000.

He also has three apprentices, all learning the business from him, and who may graduate soon.

Being independent in the market, according to some of the sellers, requires some processes which involve informing the market head, to facilitate the creation of space for the person, as well as essential items like two big plastic vats, and a reservoir from the boss of the apprentice, all depending on the type of relationship that exists between them.

Even though Aminu can afford most of his needs from the business – and having finished his Ordinary National Diploma – he is planning to go for a Higher National Diploma, or even a BSc soon.

But even in spite of the successes recorded in the business, he voiced out to Daily Trust Saturday the need for government intervention, and he said it would be heartening if provision was made for stable electricity, so sellers can preserve unsold wares.

Their customers come from all around, like Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, and even from outside Nigeria, seeing the market gross over N200m annually.

When Daily Trust Saturday spoke to Sarkin Kifi (loosely translated from Hausa to mean ‘King of Fish’), Alhaji Nasiru Isha Yahaya, he said the market has been in existence for a long time, and contributes in no small measure to the revenue of the state.

He also said the market generates over N200 million annually.

Yahaya said many of the businesses in the market are operated as family-run ones, passed down from one generation to the next.

With about 761 members, they get their products from rivers and fish ponds around the state, while they have customers from all over the country.

“Every junction where you see fishmongers, they are all our members.

“The business is very lucrative because a lot of top people patronize us, and we build cordial relationships with many of them.”

Daily Trust Saturday spoke to Ibrahim Sulaiman Alheri, 35, who has been a seller at the fish market for 20-plus years.

Beginning as an apprentice for six years, he started with a modest sum of N10,000 and he sourced his fish directly from rivers, like Wushishi, Shiroro, and Kacha, mainly because fish is cheaper there.

Alheri sells about N30,000 of fish daily on the average, and makes above N5,000 on same.

Any regrets? “None,” he replies, “I’ve been able to marry, and cater for my wife and two children from the business.”

He also shared that his future plans involve a fish farm, so he could supply the commodity to other sellers.

For the growth of his business, Bilyaminu Ibrahim Inuwa is looking for more funds to expand with the purchase of a truck he could use to convey goods to the Southwest, and also buy fish from there, as according to him, fish is cheaper there, especially compared to Niger State.

Inuwa’s business is larger than that of his other colleagues in the market.

According to him, “I have been in the business for more than 20 years, and I began with N80,000 capital.

“I supply fish to sellers in the market, as well as hotels within and outside Minna.

“Thus, I’ve been able to grow my capital base into one of millions of naira.”

It is interesting to note that the fishmongers at the market source for fish from different parts of Niger State, and beyond, with each source being unique from the other in terms of pricing, variety, and quality.

Murtala Umar, 40, became a fishmonger roughly 20 years ago.

But he is a little different from others in the market, as he is purely into buying and selling of dry fish.

His own business requires him to travel far-flung places to source for the fish. “Mine is more of a family business which I inherited.

I started as a youngster with N10,000 and my business is worth over N3 million now.

My customer base is majorly from outside Minna, and I have 30 apprentices currently,” he told Daily Trust Saturday.

The story of Umar Yahaya, 52, is that of determination.

“I started my business without a penny, and I have grown up to N5 million in the business.

“I learnt as a youngster, and I have five people learning from me now,” he said.

Chairman of Mobile Fish Sellers, Malam Aminu Isiaka, revealed that they buy a kilo of fish at N800 and sell at N1,000.

He also said members have also ventured into farming, as government invited them to be part it this year.

“Government is ready to help us access the Central Bank Nigeria loan, from N1million to N10million depending on the size of the farm,” he added.

Isiaka, however, lamented over the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic that affected their business badly.

Some fishmongers also told Daily Trust Saturday that when the lockdown started, they ended up consuming their own wares, leading to a loss of revenue of over N40million.

Despite their successes, the fishmongers still have issues they would like help resolving.

Some of them cried out for government intervention, saying if their line of business is properly harnessed, they are positive about contributing a larger percentage to the revenue of the country.

They also accused the Niger State government of unfulfilled promises, of standard shops, constant electricity supply, and upgrade of the market, but to no avail.

“That notwithstanding, we thank God for everything,” one of them said.