Butchers in Enugu markets experienced significant profits during Christmas, processing animals for customers despite the country’s economic challenges. Many buyers of live animals opted to pay commercial butchers for the convenience of processing their purchases.

Meletus, a butcher specializing in horses and cows at Obollo-Afor market in Udenu Local Government Area, shared his experience. He charges at least N20,000 to slaughter and process a horse or cow, completing the task within 90 minutes. Meletus noted the seasonal nature of his trade, revealing he handled about 30 animals on Christmas Eve alone. He emphasized that while the business is lucrative during festive periods, demand significantly drops afterward.

Dr. Fabian Izuchukwu, spotted at the Horse Market in Obollo, explained that buyers prefer hiring skilled butchers to kill and portion the meat, avoiding the hassle of processing it themselves. He praised the butchers’ expertise in efficiently handling such tasks.

In New Market, Enugu, Ezekiel Nsude, who specializes in slaughtering fowls, reported earning over N40,000 on Christmas Day. Charging N600 per chicken, Ezekiel worked from early morning until evening. He credited his father for teaching him the trade, which enables him to pay for his education. Although he currently focuses on chickens, he aspires to handle larger animals like goats and cows, recognizing the greater earnings they bring.

However, not everyone was satisfied with the rising costs. A customer lamented that processing charges for chickens had increased from N400 to N600 or more, depending on the bird’s size. She attributed the hike to Nigeria’s current economic realities, acknowledging the butchers’ need to adapt to the situation.