Some residents of Lagos, who went to various ram markets on Tuesday to buy rams for the Eld-el-Kabir, are lamenting high cost of rams, two days to the celebration.
To them, most of the rams brought to the state were unaffordable.
Mr Sulaiman Kazeem, who came to came to buy ram at Bariga Ram Market, said that the prices of rams in the market were on the high side.
“In fact, we thought because there is scarcity of funds in circulation, prices of rams will be affordable.
“I came to this market with N45, 000 thinking that I will get a medium price ram at the price.
“To my surprise, the least medium ram here cost N60, 000 this is too much.
“The dealers should consider the fact that there is no money, everybody is just trying to kill ram to mark the festival,” he said.
Kazeem said that he needed to add another N15, 000 to the money he brought to the market in order to buy his choice ram.
Alhaji Lawal Rabiu, another buyer at Itire ram market, said that he was fortunate to get his ram at N30,000.
Rabiu said that though the ram was small, he was happy that his family would have something to celebrate with.
“There are some people who could not afford to buy a ram, but we should be grateful to God for gift of life,” he said.
Alhaji Wada Ismael, the Chairman, Olaleye Ram Market, Iponri, complained that high cost of transportation fares and feeding contributed to the high cost of livestock.
Ismael, however, said that the price would come down after the festive period
He said when compared this period with that of 2014, the prices of rams were almost the same only that the market was dull.
The price of big rams in most of the markets are between N75,000 and N90,000
The medium size rams also cost between N40,000 and N60,000 while the smaller ones goes between N25, 000 and N35,000.
In Calabar, the prices of rams had reduced compared to 2014, but ram sellers decried low patronage.
In Bagobiri market Calabar, a big ram, which was sold last year for between N60, 000 and N70, 000, is selling for between N45, 000 and N50, 000 this year.
Similarly, a middle-sized ram goes for between N35, 000 and N40, 000 as against N45, 000 and N50, 000 in 2014.
A small-sized ram now goes for between N30, 000 and N35, 000.
Alhaji Isyaka Mohammed, Chairman, Ram Sellers Association, Bagobiri market Calabar, said that the reduction in the prices was due to gradual return of peace in the north east region.
“Usually, we buy Ram from Gombe, Taraba, Adamawa and Borno, but because of Boko Haram insurgency we were unable to go there to buy; rather we resorted to buying from Cameroon.
“But with the gradual return of peace now, we go to North East to buy Ram; so, that is why the prices had to come down,” he said.
Some Muslim faithful in the city have taken advantage of the situation to buy ram for their EId-El-Kabir.
Inspite of the cash crunch in the country, prices of ram have remained very high in Kano.
At Dawanau, Unguwa Uku, Makole and Yan’awaki ram markets in the city on Tuesday, only a few customers were seen trying to purchase the animals even with the Sallah festival barely two days away.
Some of the customers said the prices were too high compared to last year.
The prices ranged between N25,000 and N80,000 this year as against N20,000 and N75, 000 during the same period last year in all the markets visited.
A customer, Malam Manu Ali, who was seen bargaining over the price of a medium sized ram at Makole market, lamented the high cost of the animals at the market.
Ali, however, expressed hope that the prices would crash with the commencement of the celebration on Thursday.
Another customer at Dawanau market, Isah Gezawa, said he was unable to buy a ram due to the high cost of the animals.
‘’I have now decided to wait until after the Eid prayer on Thursday so that I can get it at a cheaper rate,’’ he said.
Reacting to the development, a spokesman for the ram sellers in the state, Alhaji Auwalu Fari, attributed the rise in prices on the high cost of breeding livestock and the general cash crunch in the country.
Fari said those breeding the animals also wanted to break even in order to get money to take care of their family needs.
Another ram dealer at Dawanau market, Nura Husaini, said, ‘’we are not making much profit because of the high cost of transporting the animals.’’
Sanusi Malam, a ram seller, said that a medium size ram which cost N20,000 last year was now being sold at between N30,000 and N35,000.
Malam said the situation had scared customers away from buying ram, saying that many of them had either settled for goats or decided not to slaughter any animal for the Sallah.
He blamed the increase in the prices of the sacrificial animal to low importation from neighbouring countries.
Following the lull in the ram business, many sellers were seen roaming the streets with rams looking for buyers.
