‘What it’s like trading camels for over 25 years’
Alhaji Wakala Umar is one of the biggest camel dealers at the livestock section of the Ilela International Border Market in Sokoto State. The 50-year-old dealer who has been in the business for 25 years, says he has no regrets. Even with the current econo
Daily Trust: How did you start camel business? Umar: I made wide consultations about the business to go into and some friends insisted that I try selling camels, which by the special grace of Allah has continued to sustain my family and other relations.
DT: How do you acquire the animals?
I travel to Abala in Niger Republic where people who breed them are many. I go there every Wednesday and arrive Ilela on Friday and wait for my animals to come to the market. I hire young boys who bring the animals on foot from Abala to Nigeria on agreed amount of money and they deliver the animal for me.
DT: What is the journey from Abala to Nigeria like?
It has never been easy because despite the long distance we have to
cover on foot, there is the security issue at the border. We have to pay before gaining entry into Nigeria.
DT: How much does it cost to pass through the border?
One can spend about N10, 000.
DT: What about those who move the animals from Abala to Nigeria. How many days do they usually spend on the road?
They spend at least 10 days before reaching Ilela and we pay them N20,000 or more. It is a continuous exercise. Right now, my consignment for the next market is already on the road. I would go to the border and wait for their arrival in order to clear them for entry into Nigeria.
DT: How many camels do you have in stock at present?
Due to the economic downturn, I have at least 40 camels right now at my shed. Before now, I used to bring at least 60 to 80 camels for a market day. Prices of camels vary according to their sizes. It ranges from N100,000 to N300, 000.
DT: How much does it cost to feed a camel before you sell it?
A camel can consume N1,000 to N1, 500 worth of feed and water daily and sometimes up to N2, 000. Camels consume a lot of water unlike other animals.
DT: How is the camel market moving generally now?
I used to sell the camels I bring in a single market day but now I can hardly sell up to 10 camels.
DT: On the average, how much do you make in a day?
I do make N1.5million or N2million, unlike in the past when one talks of N10 million and above.
DT: What made you stick to the business for over 20 years?
I stuck to camel business because I have grown used to trading the animals. They are always readily available at Abala in Niger Republic where I get them from. I get patronage, even now that the economy is not favourable you can see for yourself the level of patronage. Besides, it is a profitable business and this motivates us. For now, I don’t think I can diversify, only time will tell. Even now we are waiting for government to relocate us to a very spacious and convenient place for our business to thrive more.
DT: How many people are into this type of business in Sokoto?
We are up to 30, when you talk of big time camel dealers at Ilela market, but there are others in Sokoto town, Bodinga, Dodoru Market in Tambuwal local government area of the state.
DT: What major challenges do you face as camel dealers?
Umar: We have two major challenges right now. Number one is glut. People don’t come to purchase as they used to due to the economic situation. Secondly, the Ilela livestock market for camels is too small to accommodate the number of camels we bring. We need a more spacious Kara livestock market for our camels and customers. We are sharing this space with cattle sellers and it is posing a great challenge. We want government to provide us with a more conducive environment and support us with soft loans to boost our businesses. DT: Who are your customers?
They are people who rear camels and use them for farming like oxen and also butchers from Kaduna, Lagos, Abuja and Sokoto who buy from us. DT: What is the business hazard?
We experience a lot of kicking and biting from the camels which sometimes leads to fractures and deformity.
I stuck to camel business because I have grown used to trading the animals. They are always readily available at Abala in Niger Republic where I get them from. I get patronage, even now that the economy is not favourable you can see for yourself the level of patronage