As Muslims prepare to celebrate Eid El-Kabir on September 12, ram sellers in Jos have been moving with their animals on the streets of the Plateau capital in search of buyers.
On Thursday, youths were seen dragging hordes of rams through various streets, where they haggled over the prices with those that showed interest.
At Beach road in central Jos, the hawkers were seen with five rams, while some dragged eight rams or more, through the crowds and heavy traffic.
The situatiion was the same in Bukuru, where youths were seen moving round with the rams around communities populated by Muslims.
Some of the ram sellers said that they were forced to look for buyers on the streets because customers were not visiting the usual selling points.
One of the sellers at Tudun-Wada, Akilu Ambali, said “usually, buyers come to us, but this year, they are not showing up.
“Since they are not coming to us, we decided to go round so as to ease people the stress of transport fare.
Ambali said that the ram market was particularly poor this season, adding that “many people say they do not have money; many of those willing to buy want to do so on credit.
“Those with instant payment will get good bargains, but those that collect on credit will normally pay higher.”
Another seller, Audu Anchau, said that the ram market was “very poor” his year.
He added that “I am on the streets because people that should come to my shed are not doing so.
“In the past, politicians and other rich people usually come to my shed and will buy as many as 100 or more at the same time, but that is not the case this year.
“There were times that the state government ordered several hundreds of rams, or even ask some people to collect while government pays later, but we have not seen that this year.”
Anchau said he was willing to sell on credit “provided I know how I can get my money after the fesivity.
“As you can see, my rams are big; I have been able to sell some by going around, but the market this year is just bad.”
On the prices of the rams, he said that the smaller ones could go for N15,000, while some could be sold for as a high as N140,000.
He said he would keep moving through Jos streets with he rams “even on Sallah day”.
Malam Alti Ragije, a prospective buyer, said that he was opting to buy from the hawkers because their prices were usually better.
He said “when they get tired of roaming the streets, it is very easy to convince them to sell the rams because they would not want to go home without selling.”
Also, prices of rams have continued to increase in Abuja.
A check in Gosa, Lugbe, and Gudu ram markets in Abuja on Thursday showed a 40 per cent increase in prices.
Mr Ango Mohammed, a ram seller, said that a medium sized ram which cost N25,000 last year was now being sold at between N35,000 and N40,000.
Mohammed said the situation had scared customers from buying, adding that many of them had either settled for goats or decided not to slaughter any animal for Sallah.
Malam Inusa, another ram seller, said a lot of factors, including transportation due to the increase in fuel price, contributed to the high cost of ram and other animals in 2016.
Ram sellers spokesman in Gudu, Abdullahi Isa, attributed the rise in prices of ram to the high cost of breeding livestock and the general cash crunch in the country.
Isa said those breeding the animals need to make profit as to take care of their family needs, hence the need for the increase.
Some of the customers said the prices were too high compared to 2016.
The prices ranged between N40, 000 and N120, 000 this year as against N25, 000 and N85, 000 during the same period in 2015 in most of the markets.
A customer, Sani Denja, who was seen bargaining over the price of a medium size ram at Gosa market, bemoan the high cost of the animals at the market.
Denja, however, expressed hope that the prices would crash with the commencement of the celebration on Monday.
Another customer at Gudu market, called Dan Sokoto, 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 Monday so that I can get it at a cheaper rate.
“In Islam after Eid prayers, you still have three days of grace to do your own sacrifice so I will gladly use that window,’’ he said.
Another customer, Ibrahim Kato, said he blamed the hike on the prevailing security challenges in some parts of the Northern states and the increase in the cost of transportation.
He said he had decided to do a group sacrifice with his family this year, since it was allowed in Islam and it reduces the pressure of looking for money.
Only a few customers were seen trying to purchase the animals even with the Sallah festival close.
Eid-el Kabir is an Islamic festival to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim to follow Allah’s command to sacrifice his son Ishmael.
At Kuje, Gwagwalada and Abaji markets, prices of rams have increased in spite of low patronage from buyers.
At Abaji ram market, a big ram sells for between N100, 000 and N120, 000 depending on their sizes.
A ram trader in Abaji market, Mr Haruna Bala, told NAN that the price hike was due to the recent increase in cost of transportation and cost of sustaining the rams before sales.
“Prices of commodities in various markets have increased and the cost of transportation of goods is not in the interest of traders.
“Transportation fare of a full truck load of rams from Sokoto to Abuja has doubled as against what we normally pay in previous years.
“After transporting the rams, we normally invite veterinary doctors to check them because some fall sick due to the long journey,’’ Bala said.
Similarly, at Gwagwalada market, a big ram went for N150, 000 and N180, 000 respectively while the least ram was being sold at N80, 000.
A business man, Mr Mohammed Sule, who came to buy a ram, described the price hike as worrisome and not in the interest of the ordinary citizens.
“With the economic situation we are facing in the country, some families will find it very difficult to buy ram to celebrate the Sallah.
“It has become necessary for me to buy one in spite of the hardship, because it is a tradition observed once in a year, ‘’ Sule said.
The Chairman, Kuje Market Traders Union, Mr Yunusa Isa, described the economic situation as worrisome and advised traders to avoid artificial price hike.
Isa said that some prices were increased artificially by traders who wanted to extort the masses.
