A day to this year’s Eid-il-Kabir, Muslims’ annual festival where they kill rams in symbolic sacrifices, there are strident lamentations among Nigerians over the prohibitive prices of rams across the country.
Muslims kill rams, cows and camels in symbolic representations of how Prophet Ibrahim made moves to sacrifice his only son, Ismail after he was reminded of his vow to Allah that he would sacrifice the child if only he could be granted the mercy of having one.
Annually, billions of animals are slaughtered across the world while buyers source for the animals.
There are estimated to be over 2.18billion Muslims across the world.
NPO Reports correspondent who moved round ram markets in parts of Lagos and Ogun heard loud lamentations of some Nigerians over the increase in the price of rams.
Amidst the hustles and bustles at the market, with dozens of rams tied to their stakes, prospective buyers approach sellers with many of them turning back after negotiations break down as many complain the costs have gone through the roofs.
At Ajuwon, Ogun state ram market which was visited by The NPO Reports correspondent, one of the sellers disclosed that they had different rams available for sale, with the cheapest costing N200,000 and the most expensive costing N700,000.
“The lowest price of ram we have is N200,000, while the highest is N700,000,” — Mr Garaba Ado, ram seller, told the NPO Reports correspondent.
Due to the sudden increase in prices, some buyers said they found it difficult to purchase any ram because the prices exceeded their budgets.
At the Abbatoir area of Lagos, Mr. Muritala Adetunji, who spoke with our correspondent, showed three categories of rams which went for N700,000, N1m and N1.4m respectively.
“You can’t really blame us. This is what the heavy costs of transporting these animals from the North to the South has imposed on us the merchants.
“We cannot but spread the entire cost on the buyers because we must make our little profits,” Muritala Adetunji said
Another buyer who identified himself as Mr. Khalifah said, “I budgeted about N300,000, but now I cannot buy any ram. I have to go back and calculate again before I can purchase anything.”
One of the buyers lamented the lack of price regulation, saying it has made purchasing difficult.
“Today it can be N250,000, tomorrow it will be N350,000, and nobody will say anything,” another buyer who identified himself simply as Mr. Eyitayo, said adding that “The prices are too high for average Nigerians. The celebration is supposed to be for everyone and not just a few people.
“If we are talking about ₦400,000, then it means it is beyond the reach of average Nigerians.” He added
Amid the complaints, ram sellers said sales have been good so far, although they are still expecting more customers.
“All the rams marked here have been sold,” one of the ram sellers said, adding that despite the situation, buyers remain hopeful and are praying for improvement in the country’s economy.
At another ram market in the Grailand area of Ajuwon, Iri Waziri said that the customers this year are quite low compared to those of last year.
“We need customers. Those that are coming are not plenty,” Goje Musa, one of the sellers at the market said.
He added, that “We are making sales, but it’s not like last year.”
One of the customers stated that he understood the fact that the situation of the economy but the prices of the ram were higher than he budgeted.
“Coming here, we understand that the economy is bad and things are expensive. But getting here, we realized that what we even budgeted for is very low compared to the prices,” Mr. Dayo who was at the market to buy one ram
One of the ram sellers said that the cost of getting the rams from the Northern part of Nigeria is what led to the hike in the prices.
Apart from the cost of transportation, there are said to be additional costs arising from security personnels who line the roads who collect bribes from truck drivers.
“The cost of transportation for this year and last year is different. The cost of transporting the rams from the North to this place is expensive.
“That is why the prices have become higher than last year,” Goje Musa added
He went further to say that the rams at this particular market are not expensive, saying that sellers have rams for as low as N150000.
“We have rams for N700, 000, N500,000, N400, 000, N300, 000, N200, 000. We also have small rams that go for N150,000.
Another customer who simply identified himself as Mr. Kunle, complained about the hike in prices, stating that what he got last year at a great rate is now much higher this year.
“When we came here last year, we bought a ram of N350,000, but now it’s up to N600,000. We are also trying to bargain but they are not agreeing,” he added.