Kano kolanut market: Where over 10,000 people earn a living
By Yusha’u A. Ibrahim, Richard P. Ngbokai & Jidda Abubakar Muhammad, Kano
It is said that “kolanut lasts longer in the mouths of those who value it.’’ This perhaps explains why its business still thrives in northern Nigeria, where it forms part of the cultural rites of the people. Goro, as it is called in Hausa language, plays a significant role in many cultures, including Hausa; thus it is very uncommon to witness any Hausa ceremony without lobes of kolanut.
Although the climatic condition of the region is not favourable for the cultivation of kolanut, the north, Kano in particular, is widely known for it distribution, not just within the country, but to other African countries, including Chad and Niger.
The Kolanut International Market at Mariri, Kano, is famous as the only entry point, from where the product gets to end users.
Daily Trust on Sunday learnt that at least five truck-loads of the product from Shagamu in Ogun State offload at Mariri International Kolanut Market on a daily basis, thereby creating an opportunity for the teaming unemployed youth to earn a living.
When our correspondents visited the market recently, it was a beehive of activities as young men and adults struggled to eke out a living. While some are fulltime dealers on the product, others earn their living by loading and offloading the product.
It was gathered that about 3,000 unemployed youths from Kano and neighbouring states, including Jigawa, Katsina and Kaduna, source their daily bread through menial jobs in the market.
According to the chairman of the Mariri Kolanut Association, Alhaji Husaini Alaramma, the market was relocated to Mariri from Kofar Nassarawa in 1977, for the purpose of expanding it to accommodate more traders.
“Presently, over 10, 000 people from far and near engage in kolanut business in the market, which provides employment for over 3, 000 youths.
“The market is assisting government in various ways: reducing redundancy among the youth, adding value to the economy of the state and reducing crime. Five years ago, I had 49 youths working in my shops in the market,” he said.
Malam Saleh KT, who relocated to Kano from Katsina State for the purpose of kolanut business, said he had been on the job for over 35 years.
“I have been in this business for over 35 years and I can tell you confidently that I have reaped its gains. Out of this business, I was able to get married. I now have seven children, some of whom have married; Alhamdulillah. I have built a modest house from the proceeds of this business, besides many other things,’’ he said.
Saleh said the daily pay for offloading depended on the number of trucks and the size of bags involved. He said the size of each bag was determined by the location of the product - from domestic source in Shagamu or foreign countries like Ghana, Ivory Coast or Cameroon.
He said, “The kolanuts being offloaded at Mariri for onward distribution comes from Shagamu and other African countries. Ghana, Ivory Coast and Cameroon, among others, do supply Kano with their own varieties of kolanut, some of which are easily identified by their sizes and colour.
“Ghana’s variety is called marsa. It is often larger, with lighter texture and low caffeine content, while Ivory Coast and Cameroon supply red coloured kolanuts with higher caffeine concentration, known among Hausa consumers as daushen goro. Other varieties include parsa, adaku and goriya, which are found in Nigeria.”
Also, Malam Salisu Usman Abubakar said that with proceeds from the kolanut business, he obtained a National Certificate in Education (NCE).
“I started as a sales boy in the market while I was in secondary school. At that time, I had about seven wheelbarrows I rented out to others who conveyed the product to various shops around the market. Out of that I was able to sponsor my education up to tertiary level. Also, courtesy of this little business, I bought a plot of land, built my house and got married.
“Any wealthy individual you know in the North traded in kolanut at one point or another. In fact, kolanut has a tradition that withstands imperialist forces of modernity. Up till today, transaction in kolanut retains some vestiges of Arabic culture. Any bag of kolanut you see, be it from Ghana, Ivory Coast, Cameroon or any other place, caries Arabic inscriptions, which is very historic,’’ he said.
Muhammad Tasi’u, 20, from Warawa Local Government Area of Kano State, is a secondary school student who combines studies with menial job at the market. He said he had been in the business of kolanut at Mariri market for almost four years.
“In this market, my job is to offload packs of kolanut from trucks and take same to various shops. One has to be honest in discharging one’s duty,’’ he said.
Asked about his daily earnings, he said, “Depending on the rate of transaction,
I earn about N2, 000 per day. But when activities are not much, I can only go home with N1, 000 or even N500.
“With my earnings I am funding my education. I am still studying at Mariri Secondary School. I attend school in the morning, after which I will go to the market and do my business. I am now in my final year.”
Nazir Adam is a dealer on tsinta (damaged or unwanted kolanut). He told our correspondent that tsinta business had many secrets. “Most people who became important in the business of kolanut started with tsinta.
“It is a business you can start with little capital. For instance, I started with only N2, 000. At that time, one could buy almost 30 packs of tsinta with that amount. And if you were lucky you could earn N150 on each pack. In those days, N10, 000 would not be sufficient for you to start the real business.
“I started the business 10 years ago as a dan dako, then I became a shop attendant and later switched over to the business of tsinta.
Muhammad Tasi’u further said that most of his customers were from Danbatta, Wudil, Gezawa, and other urban places. He added that in addition to goro, he dealt on tsinta.
“The business is really enjoyable. Through it I got married, built a house, take good care of my family and assist relatives. Although I could not further my education, I have vowed that my children will attend good schools,” he added.
Explaining how he got addicted to eating kolanuts, Muhammad Bashir Muhammad said, “I even take kolanut early in the morning before breakfast. I usually contact my vendor to supply me with the commodity, sometimes on credit. I cannot explain why I am fond of eating kolanut, just like every other addict. It is like smoking tobacco, which is often for conscience satisfaction or fun seeking. I prefer eating kolanut to smoking. “I find it difficult to come out of my addiction because I find solace in eating kolanut, especially after every meal during the day time. Habit is all about one’s conscience.’’
Muhammad Kabir Ya’u, another kolanut addict said, “My kolanut eating habit started since I was young. I inherited the culture of eating kolanut from my father who used to buy it in bulk. When I was in primary school, some old women in our neighborhood used to caution me about it, saying it was harmful to human health.
“Although that frightening remark put fear in me, it has not in any way discouraged me from eating kola. I am now 40 years old and still eating kolanut. I have never experienced any health problem related to kolanut.
While identifying some challenges facing the business, chairman of the market association, Alhaji Alaramma, called on the government to extend its empowerment programmes to help the traders boost their businesses. He lamented that the ongoing economic recession in the country had affected many traders in the market; hence they were in dire need of government intervention.
He also appealed to the Kano State government to construct culverts within the market in order to address the problem of flooding, which has been wreaking havoc for many years.
“We are also appealing to the Kano State Government to install security lights in the market. This will help in combating the problem of insecurity,” he concluded.