Eid-el-kabir, the festival of ram sacrifice is an act of Ibadah (worship) to Almighty Allah and presently, the mood is felt almost everywhere. As a result, prices of sacrificial animals have gone up in major markets in the country.
A visit to Mangoro cattle market, Onipetesi cattle market in Agege and Alagutan cattle market in Iyanu Ipaja, Lagos revealed about 80 – 100 percent increase. A small ram in these markets goes for N25,000, as against N15,000 during the same period last year, a smaller ram goes for N60,000 as against N48, 000 while a big ram is sold for as much as N180,000 and N200,000 now.
Some of the buyers expressed dissatisfaction with the high prices of the rams in the markets, adding that prevailing economic recession in the country was responsible for the increase.
“Although the sellers have their reasons for the high prices, they have to consider the purchasing power of an average income earner, people are only trying to fulfil their religious obligations,” Alh. Bashir Kolawole said.
Lukman, a buyer at the cattle market, said he had visited many ram markets but couldn’t buy any because of the high cost, adding that the price of a ram this year is high. “Many buyers cannot buy and they go home disappointed. I am appealing to the government to look into the problem or else many Muslims will not be able to slaughter rams during this Eid-el-Kabir,” he said.
Another buyer who pleaded anonymity said every thing in the country is falling apart. “I do not know what the country is turning into. Our income is going down day by day but the prices of commodities are increasing on daily basis. Nothing seems right in Nigeria, many of us has to cut our pocket to serve Almighty Allah in our own little way. Seriously, things are falling apart in Nigeria.”
However, Mallam Ibrahim Bilal, a native of Gumburu in Borno who sells ram at Mangoro ram market in Agege attributed insurgency as major cause for the increase this year. “I have been into the business of rams for thirteen years. I buy rams from Ugum village in Maiduguri. But early this year some gun men suspected to Boko Haram came into the market and killed almost all of us, since then I get rams from Niger and Chad. Bringing rams from these countries can be very expensive due to transporting the rams down to Lagos.
Also, the police officers and customs officers collect a huge amount of money from me and all these put together are reasons for the hike in the prices of rams compared to last year. We dont even make enough gain as we used to because people who used to buy up to four rams now buy one or two.”
Mallam Mairago Lati, who sells ram at Onipetesi ram market, Agege opined politicians and the wealthy buy animals in bulk for distribution to political associates, supporters and relatives and as such sellers like to sell to them instead of coming to the market.
“The dealers and people bringing the animals always keep the prices high in anticipation of those buyers, who always come to buy hundreds of rams from the markets especially at the last two to three days before the Sallah day,” he said.
A visit to motor parks around Lagos also revealed that many travellers also pay more to get to their destination.
The fare from Iyanu Ipaja to Ago Iwoye which was N800 per passenger before the Sallah festival, now goes for N1,200 per passenger, while transportation from Lagos to Ilorin has increased by 100 per cent.
Abubakar Idris, a commercial bus driver defended the increase in the cost of transportation during festive periods, blaming it on bad roads and traffic gridlock. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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