Kano Hajj camp market: Where pilgrims buy cheaper wares

The Kano Hajj Camp market, located close to the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, attracts patronage within and outside the state, offering pilgrims various items at affordable and cheaper rates than what they would pay in Saudi Arabia, where the goods originated from.

The market is popularly known for men’s popular Islamic clothing, jalabiya, women’s famous Islamic wear, abaya, praying mats, zamzam water, dates, gabaruwa, Arabian perfumes, cosmetics, suitcases, second-hand cloths, turbans, Islamic books, among many other items.

The market is said to have started over 50 years ago to cater for Hajj needs of pilgrims at the transit camp before their airlift to the Holy Land or upon arrival from Jeddah after completion of the holy pilgrimage.

Pilgrims who returned from the Holy Land and were unable to buy enough goods to present as gifts to family and friends usually got items from this market, while on the other hand, some pilgrims sold items they considered not needed anymore or to get cash after a long journey.

From its temporary status when it started, the market has become a permanent site of sorts, stretching from Katsina road to Kwakwaci-Airport road roundabout, with over 10,000 shops attracting varying customers in search of quality and cheap items.

Saidu Suleiman Gezawa, one of the traders at the market, highlighted some of the items that could be found in the market. Hs said, “Zamzam water, a pillar upon which the market was formed, is well known to every pilgrim during Hajj and Umrah because of its importance. Secondly, we have what we call ajwa (dates) with a rich history, having been first planted by the Holy Prophet (SAW). It is often used for medicinal purposes, just like zamzam. We have a date called Abu Sukar. It is only found in Saudi Arabia and grown in Madinah.

“There is gabaruwa, which every pilgrim must have as a gift. If you travel to London, the United States of America or France, no one asks for gifts, but once you travel for pilgrimage, people will come to you for their gifts; and gabaruwa is usually given as a gift. We have jalabiya, which are often given as gifts. It can be new or second-hand (gumama); and both are brought from Saudi Arabia. It all depends on your financial status. The rich usually buy the new jalabiya, while the not-so-rich buy to be given as gifts.

“A new jalabiya costs N20,000, but with just N5,000 you can buy gumama and its quality is not compromised.

“Harami is an important part of pilgrimage. Pilgrims wear it at Dhulhulayfa; and most intending pilgrims buy it here before they travel to Makkah.

“Our people import it to crash the price for pilgrims. Instead of buying at either  N20,000 or N30,000 in Saudi Arabia, you can get it here between N10,000 and N15,000. However, it is of different qualities, so you go for what you want and can afford.”

Alhaji Bashir Lawan Ahmed, the vice chairman of the Hajj Camp Market Traders Association, said traders always insisted on selling only quality products to maintain the market tradition, failure to which one would not be allowed to operate.

“It is true. You heard the testimonies of customers you met in my shop. They are from different places, such as Jigawa and Kaduna.

“You will find the price of any product from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Dubai or any other country affordable at the Hajj camp market. More importantly, our goods are of higher quality. It is an established law here that we don’t allow substandard goods in the market. We have a special committee working with the Consumer Protection Agency to verify goods, especially the ones that are eatable, as well as zamzam water.

“A 13-man committee is responsible for checking the quality of goods brought to this market before they are allowed to sell. If your products are found to be below standard, they would take it to the market chairman, from there to the Consumer Protection Agency. If it is something we would dismiss, we do so, and if it attracts sanction, we do that,” he said.

According to Ahmed, the secret behind affordable prices in the market is that they buy in large quantities, unlike pilgrims who usually buy from shops, adding that whatever is seen in Saudi Arabia is also obtainable in the market and at lower prices.

Hajiya Bilkisu Ali Kazaure and Madam Rita Omachi Adam, who were seen shopping at the market, said they found prices very affordable and were glad to buy abaya and suitcases. Hajiya Bilkisu said her son was getting married and she went to the market to buy suitcases for his kayan lefe.

The owner of a designer Arabian perfumes and cosmetics shop, Abubakar Nasiru Abubakar, said they bought goods from Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Paris to meet customers’ tastes and preferences.

Tooth decoration is another thing the market is known for. Pilgrims pay as high as 300 Saudi Riyals to have a tooth decoration while in the holy land, but unknown to many, the same silver, gold or GL costs between N5,000 and N10,000 in the market.

The Hajj camp is considered a mini Saudi Arabian market in Kano. And the traders association is planning to expand the market in collaboration with the state government to accommodate more people so that quality products would continue to be affordable.

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