Animal by-product and waste from Gombe abattoir is creating income for youths and entrepreneurs as demand for the commodity heightens from across the country.
Gali Abdullahi, a bone seller from the abattoir, said the business was lucrative for him as he had been in it for the past 22 years and the demand for the commodity was always high.
He explained that all he needed do was to burn the bones and crush them before bagging them for supply to his various customers across the country.
He said a truckload of the bones, containing about 200 bags of the commodity, was being sold for between N2million and N2.3million, adding that he buys a ton of the commodity for N50, 000 at the abattoir and sells to companies for between N80, 000 and N100, 000 depending on the state and distance.
“Bone meal is an important ingredient in animal feeds. Bone meal is the finely grounded and powdered bone of slaughtered animals which is used as mineral supplement for animals.’’
According to him, the demand for his commodity was coming from Lagos, Oyo, Plateau and Kaduna states, where most of the companies that process the commodity are located.
He identified agro-allied companies as his biggest customers and those into animal feeds production, explaining that they needed the bones as a major ingredient for animal feeds production.
“In Lagos and Oyo, we sell to companies for prices ranging from N90, 000 upwards. Transportation of the commodity is high, for example, from Gombe here to Jos, transportation costs me N150, 000.’’
He said the business had benefitted him and helped him to cater for his household over the years, adding that he usually made between N150, 000 and N200,000 per trip. He noted that he also operates the same business in Bauchi, Adamawa and Taraba states.
Abdullahi added that the business was impacting greatly on youths in the community as he had engaged some of them and they were realizing daily incomes for themselves and their families.
Malam Salisu Aliyu, who deals on animal dung from the abattoir, said the business was lucrative as many farmers had begun preparing for farming activities in the state. Adding that he sold a bag of animal dung for N1, 000 and “we get about 20 bags of animal dung per day and sometimes we get 30 bags or in some cases 10 bags.’’
He explained that most of his customers were from Kaduna and Plateau states, stressing that the business of animal waste “is a lucrative one that has engaged several youths.’’
Aliyu said the blood of animals slaughtered at the facility was also processed, dried, and sold to companies who produce animal feeds in other states. He said it took a week to process and dry the blood and N140, 000 income.
Aliyu called on the Government to assist them with necessary tools to process their commodity in a healthy environment to safeguard the health of laborer’s as well as to ensure the commodity was hygienic.
