Sellers of chicken, turkey and ducks in Kaduna are lamenting low patronage of their birds ahead of the Eid-El-Fitr festivity.

In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Kaduna, the sellers expressed their concern, saying the development was worrisome.

NAN correspondent who visited popular bird markets at Kantin Koli section of Kaduna Central Market, sighted a handful of customers pricing the birds.

Kabiru Yunusa, who sells chicken, said that prices of the birds had remained stable, yet patronage was still unimpressive.

“A chicken, depending on the weight, is sold between N2,500 and N4,000.

“Layers are sold for as low as from N1,500 to N2,000, while broilers are sold between N2,500 and N4,000,” Mr Yunusa said.

Jamilu Abubakar said that he had sold some chickens but was yet to secure a buyer for turkey.

“Turkeys are more expensive as a sizeable one, depending on its weight, costs between N9,000 and N15,000.

“Usually, customers troop in even a day to the festivity, so we are still expectant,” he said.

Another seller at the market, Jalo Madibo, attributed the poor patronage to workers who are yet to receive their monthly pay.

“The market is usually a beehive of activities as soon as salaries are paid to public and private workers,” Mr Madibo said.

Yakubu Jibril, a civil servant, who sells chicken from local poultry at his residence in Barnawa, also said he was yet to get reasonable patronage, despite advertising his chicken on social media.

Another civil servant and resident of the Kurmin Mashi area, Nasir Mohammed, said the harsh economic reality in the country had forced some families to contemplate going for alternatives such as fish and beef.

(NAN)