ABUJA: Prices of foreign poultry have risen by 28.5 per cent in Nigeria after the Customs Service launched ‘Operation Hawk Descend’, which aims to quash the smuggling of frozen poultry products into the country.
Prices of locally reared birds have increased by about 25 per cent, reportedThe Punch in Nigeria.
The Operation Hawk Descend, which was launched on July 7, 2015 at the Seme border, was expected to be conducted in Nigeria’s border with neighbouring countries, especially in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states, and last for an initial period of three months, ending in September.
A trader in frozen chicken at the Berger Market in Lagos State, Mrs Joy Obong, told The Punch that the rise in the price of imported poultry began shortly after the launch of Operation Hawk Descend.
She said: “Even though the Federal Government had long banned the importation of poultry, people were still bringing the items in through the Seme border. The Customs officials were aware of it.
“But since they did that very public launch a week ago and made announcements all over the news channels, the Customs officials have become very strict about the enforcement of the import ban. Now, they do not let any frozen poultry get past the borders.”
Mrs Obong added that though she still had some old stock left, the scarcity of poultry had forced the price of a kilogramme of frozen chicken to rise to 900 Naira (N) from N700 previously, which is a 28.5 per cent rise.
“Although the Customs are very strict now, some people use the waterways and the creeks to smuggle the products from Benin Republic. This time, they bring them in through Sango in Ogun State. Even at that, it is just a few people that are willing to take this risk,” she added.
Another trader, Mrs Sola Oyenuga, lamented the corresponding increase in the prices of locally breed poultry, adding that a kilo of frozen locally bred poultry, which sold for N800 two weeks ago, now costs N1000.
She accused poultry farmers in the country of taking advantage of the situation to make obscene profits.
