Eid-el-Kabir: Ram prices soar in FCT

With about one week to this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration, prices of rams have risen sharply across various locations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This is as ram sellers are lamenting low patronage from buyers. Some of the dealers attributed the high cost of rams to the country’s harsh economic situation. Findings by Abuja Metro […]

With about one week to this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration, prices of rams have risen sharply across various locations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This is as ram sellers are lamenting low patronage from buyers.

Some of the dealers attributed the high cost of rams to the country’s harsh economic situation.

Findings by Abuja Metro showed that prices of rams have surged far beyond last year’s rates, with many Muslims lamenting their inability to afford the animal for this year’s sacrifice.

At the cattle market along the Abaji-Lokoja Road, where rams are displayed for sale, a small-sized ram that sold for between N130,000 and N150,000 during last year’s Eid-el-Kabir now goes for between N185,000 and N200,000.

A medium-sized ram, which sold for between N220,000 and N250,000 last year, is now being sold for between N280,000 and N320,000, while big-sized rams that sold for between N350,000 and N420,000 now cost between N460,000 and N600,000. Bigger-sized rams that sold for between N630,000 and N700,000 last year are now priced between N950,000 and N1.2 million.

A visit to Kwaita village market on Saturday showed that many customers preferred buying directly from the herders because their prices are cheaper than those offered by traders from the North.

“You know some of these herders come directly from their settlements to the market and sell at lower prices than the traders who bring rams from the far North and complain about transportation costs,” a customer, Ibrahim Suleiman, said.

Findings further showed that prices have also risen sharply at some village markets in the territory. A medium-sized ram that sold for between N130,000 and N140,000 last year now costs between N185,000 and N220,000. Big-sized rams that sold for between N250,000 and N280,000 last year are now sold for between N300,000 and N430,000, while bigger-sized rams that sold for between N520,000 and N600,000 now go for between N750,000 and N850,000.

At the popular cattle market in Anagada community along the Giri-Zuba Road in Gwagwalada Area Council, prices also recorded a sharp increase. A medium-sized ram that sold for between N165,000 and N180,000 last year now costs between N260,000 and N285,000, while big-sized rams that sold for between N360,000 and N450,000 are now priced between N470,000 and N650,000.

Further findings at the Zuba cattle market showed that prices have equally skyrocketed. A medium-sized ram that sold for between N150,000 and N170,000 last year now goes for between N200,000 and N250,000, while bigger-sized rams that sold for between N270,000 and N300,000 now cost between N320,000 and N400,000.

In Kuje Area Council, around the popular Tipper Garage Junction, the situation was similar as prices continued to soar. A medium-sized ram that sold for between N200,000 and N230,000 last year is now being sold for between N300,000 and N420,000.

Meanwhile, ram sellers expressed concern over low patronage ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

Most of the traders blamed the poor sales on the high cost of the animals.

One of the sellers, Garba Isyaku, attributed the increase in prices to insecurity and the high cost of transportation from the North to Abuja.

He said he was only able to purchase 120 rams from Jigawa State and paid about N3,500 to transport each ram to Abuja.

Another seller, Dahiru Alhassan, also complained about poor patronage, saying many customers only came to ask for prices without making purchases.

According to him, insecurity in the North and transportation costs limited the number of rams he could bring to Abuja this year.

“Unlike last year when I brought almost 250 rams and sold them all, this year I was only able to bring 120, and up till now, no customer has bought even one,” he said.

Some customers, especially civil servants, also expressed concern over the rising prices, saying their take-home pay could no longer afford a ram this year.

They blamed the economic hardship in the country, saying many people now depend on cooperative loans to buy rams for the celebration.

A civil servant, Zakari Yakubu, said he might settle for an alternative because of financial constraints.

A class teacher, Labaran Danjuma, said he could not afford a ram because of outstanding bank loans taken to address family challenges.