PHOTOS: Buyers lament as prices of rams skyrocket amid sallah preparation

As Nigerians prepare to celebrate Eid-al-Adha, popularly known as sallah, the prices of rams have increased significantly.

The slaughtering of ram is a practice among the Muslim faithful during the period known as the “festival of sacrifice”.

Eid al-Adha commemorates prophet Ibrahim’s readiness to sacrifice his son in order to demonstrate his dedication to God.

The celebration is the second significant religious festival in Islam, with the first being Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan.

As Nigerians prepare to celebrate sallah on Tuesday, TheCable, Nigeria’s credible online independent newspaper, visited some markets in Lagos and Abuja to observe trading activities.

While last year’s celebration took place during the COVID-19 lockdown, the celebration for 2021 will be held amid reopening of the economy.

During a visit to Ikotun, Isheri and Igando markets in Lagos, buyers lamented the rise in prices, saying purchasing power has been affected.

A buyer, who identified himself as Bolaji, said many Nigerians engaging in sallah celebration now prefer to buy cows instead of rams which hold more significance during the period.

“Every year, I always tell people that even though you buy a ram for N80,000 the previous year, don’t expect the same the next year. So, either there is COVID-19 or not, there is always inflation — an increment in the price of ram every year. But this year’s own is double. For instance, the ram we bought N150,000 last year is N250,000 now,” he said.

“More people are now going for cows. The ram you purchased for N200,000, just imagine that you use it to buy a cow of N200,000. It would be enough to feed your family, and those that are coming to visit you. So, what most people are doing is to get a cow for around N180,000 and maybe a ram of N40,000.”

Another buyer, who identified himself as Abolude, said: “Despite the reopening of the economy, things are getting worse. It’s becoming more ridiculous. Purchasing power has been affected, because there are so many things one needs to do with the little money available. So, it has to do with weighing options now.”

At the market, while some sellers told TheCable that sales have improved this year when compared to last year, others disagree.

A ram seller, identified as Awalu, said people are buying more in 2021, compared to last year.

He added that although the price of ram is higher now due to the economy, sales have increased nonetheless.

Abubakar Gadanga, a ram seller from Yobe state, said the increase in ram prices is as a result of insecurity in the north.

“Rams are not as plenty as we used to have them in the north — that’s one reason why the rams are expensive. Insecurity issues in the north like that of Boko Haram are affecting ram sales,” he said.

“Ram is more expensive than cows because of sallah. People are buying but not as much as last year. The money for transporting one trailer of rams is now up to N500,000. Before now, it used to be between N250,000 and N300,000. All these contributed to the high cost of rams.”

Abubakar Muhammed, another trader, said it is difficult to transport rams from the north as a result of kidnapping, robbery, and other security challenges.

“Security operatives also collect N1,000 at each checkpoint and there are lots of checkpoints on the road,” he said.

In Abuja, TheCable observed a similar situation as buyers decried increase in prices of rams, while traders highlighted reasons for the increment.

Traders at Kubwa federal housing cited increased cost of transportation, inflation and insecurity as major challenges which have made prices skyrocket.

Meanwhile, Yusuf Abdulbasit, a buyer, said his expense on purchase of ram has doubled this year when compared to the previous year.

Mahad Muhammad, another buyer, also complained of increased prices with lower value.

“The ram I bought for N50,000 last year looks bigger than the ram I bought for N80,000 this year,” he said.

Below are photos from Lagos and Abuja.

LAGOS