Sallah: Season of ‘untouchable’ rams

Less than one week to Sallah, where rams and other animals are slaughtered in sacrifice, prices of rams and other animals have skyrocketed. Weekly Trust checks in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Borno and other states across Nigeria show  that rams are costing nearly twice the price they were sold last year.   In Abuja, many […]

Less than one week to Sallah, where rams and other animals are slaughtered in sacrifice, prices of rams and other animals have skyrocketed. Weekly Trust checks in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Borno and other states across Nigeria show  that rams are costing nearly twice the price they were sold last year.

 

In Abuja, many are complaining over the price hike even as some put the blame on the recent flood disaster that hit many states across the country.

Isa Adamu, a trader in Dei-Dei Market, a suburb of Abuja told Weekly Trust, that he used to buy at least three rams during Sallah, one for his family, one for his parent and another for his in-laws, but this year, he was able to buy for his house hold only.

“The situation is different this year, but I understand the reason, it is the flood, it has damaged agricultural activities in the north where these animals are brought from. For that, I have decided to adapt to the hike and go for just one. This particular one I bought (pointing at the ram) cost me N40,000  whereas, a few years ago, I got same size and quality for N32, 000.”

Weekly Trust learnt that in spite of the price hike, the rams were available with less traffic of buyers. However, some of the big ones have been secluded with the aim of reserving them for high profile buyers.

According to one of the dealers, Ismail Kankara, “these extra-large ones are meant for people who have placed orders for such. However, we can still sell to prospective buyers who can afford to cough out the amount. They cost as high as N80, 000 to N100,000.

“Most people who ordered for them are top civil servants, politicians and business people who buy and give them out to people before Sallah. Some also buy and travel with them, because they are strong and healthy, they can withstand the rigors of journeys.”

A major dealer in the market, Muntari Zakari, said the route of getting the animals have changed this year due to the excess flooding in many parts of the North and the crises in others.

“Unlike previous years, this year, people have to go to as far as Niger Republic, some province of Chad neighbouring the North east to get these big animals. However, if you are lucky to get it at a reduced price due to our exchange rate advantage, what about the transportation and landing cost and other charges you have to part with?”

“After all these hectic processes, the gain is not that much. Personally, I gain more if the prices are moderate and we have more animals, more customers and a bubbling market.”

However, ironically, as many Abuja residents complain of the hike in ram prices, Hassan A. Kadir, who works in Abuja but has a family in Kaduna, believed it is a better deal to have it purchased in Abuja.

He told Weekly Trust that he just bought a ram of N32, 000 which would cost about N36, 000 in Kaduna.

“I believed I got it a bit cheaper in Abuj,a because the rush is more in Kaduna. How many people spend their Sallah in Abuja?”

Saleh Abdullahi, a ram trader at the Kugbo ram market, Abuja says “though the flood in some parts of the north has forced some traders to increase the prices of their rams, for me it still does not make sense. If we have the fear of Allah in us, we will be rational when it comes to selling these rams. I can tell you that the highest I sold my rams wasn’t more than N35, 000. What I sold for N35, 000 goes for N50,000 to N55, 000 in other places. And I can tell you that most of my rams have been bought.”

Potential buyers have also voiced their feelings regarding the high prices of some of these rams.

“It’s unfortunate that when prices go up in Nigeria, they never come down. Rather they keep going higher and higher beyond the reach of the common man in the country.

I came here with the hope of buying a medium-seized ram within the range of N20, 000 and N25, 000, but I am being told it costs N32, 000 to N38, 000. Where do I get the money from?” Saidu Aminu lamented at the Kugbo ram market.

However, a market survey by Weekly Trust at Hauren Wanki Cattle Market in Kano State showed that the price of rams this year has hiked compared to last year. A ram that costs N20, 000 last year is being sold now at N30, 000 or more.

Many customers who spoke to Weekly Trust expressed concern over the hike in price of the rams as they urged the sellers to fear Allah and reduce the price, so that low income earners can afford to buy the animal and do the necessary sacrifice.

According to Alhaji Jabir Mohammed, “the price is hiked with about 30 per cent when compared to last year; For example, a cow that I bought last year at N70, 000, now is N100,000. I have been coming to this market for about three days, but I still couldn’t buy one,” he said.

Contrary to what customers are saying, the traders said the price of rams this year did not go high when compared to that of last year.

Alhaji Mansur Ashura said, “I am calling on customers whenever they come to the market to always look for the owner and shun the middlemen (Yan barna), as they are the ones influencing the price hike,” he explained.

Ashura further expressed concern over shortage of the cattle in the market, as the current insecurity makes it difficult for traders to bring the animals from neighbouring countries.

In Kaduna, a ram seller, Abdulmalik Ibrahim, who came all the way from a village called Gaya in Kano State, lamented that the market is slow this year.

He said that his smallest ram cost N17,000 while the biggest costs N90, 000. “We thank God the market is moving a little, because I have sold four rams since I came here on Monday and I came with 12 rams,” he stated.

He decried that he has been doing this business for the past four years and it has never been as bad as this year’s, adding that “people want to buy the rams, but there is no money in circulation.”

Another seller Yusuf Ibrahim, who has been in the business of selling rams for the past 10 years, said he brought 27 rams to Kaduna from Kano for sale. “The smallest costs N16, 000 while the biggest costs N65, 000, but last year the biggest ram cost N70,000 and the smallest N18,000.

“There is no money in the hands of people, that is why we had to cut our prices so that we can sell our rams and return to our homes so far I have sold only three rams since I came to Kaduna on Monday,” he said.

Sabo Umar, a buyer said “the cows are not a lot like last year and there no sellers, even the quality of the rams have reduced because they are not looking as healthy as last year’s.

“The crises the state and the nation in general have been facing is taking a major toll on the economy as there is no money around for people to put food on their tables let alone buy rams for Sallah,” he said. He maintained that the economy cannot move forward without peace and security.

Abubakar Waziri, another seller of rams from Katsina, said the cost of his smallest rams is N25,000 as against the N30, 000 it was sold last year and the biggest cost N70,000 while it cost N80,000 last year.

“I came a week ago with 60 rams and Alhamdulillah I have sold over 50, though I went back and got more rams.

“The market last year was better, because this year people don’t have money, that is why there is no market; and due to the present security situation.

“We normally depend on Niger Republic for our rams, but the demand is now higher, transport is another factor due to lack of fuel and the removal of fuel subsidy and the rams are also expensive,” he lamented.

He called on the government to look into the plight of the people and find ways of easing the suffering of the masses.

Less than a week to the Sallah celebration, prices of rams have gone high in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. Some buyers who spoke to Weekly Trust complained about the high cost of the animal this year which they said is beyond their reach.

Our reporter who visited the popular Kasuwar Shanu (cattle market) in the Maiduguri metropolis observed that a ram which sold for N50, 000 last year is now being sold between N70,000 to N75000 while the one sold for N70000 last year now goes for N100,000 to N120,000. Also the least ram at the goes between N20, 000 to N25,000.

Saleh Modu, a buyer who spoke to Weekly Trust said “ I am afraid   many people will not be able to perform the annual festival of sacrificing ram for the Sallah due to the high cost of the animal. It is beyond the reach of the poor unlike before where you can afford to get a ram between N10,000 and 15,000.’’

Weekly Trust also gathered that Chadians, Nigeriens and Cameroonians who also bring their rams to Maiduguri markets are afraid to come this year due to the insecurity.

“Most of the rams are from hamlets and villages in local government areas, unlike before when we get larger part of the animal from neighbouring countries. That is why rams are costlier this year,” Mohammed Gobir, a ram trader to Weekly Trust.

Meanwhile, In Lagos, the business outlook for merchants of Sallah rams is that of a mixed grill. While there are those who complained that most of their customers are being scared away by the skyrocketing prices, others believe there is a geometric improvement in this year’s patronage when compared to last year.

At the popular Lagos State Abattoir market, Oko-Oba, Agege, the ram selling business which is dominated by northerners appeared to be witnessing a lull. The abattoir market which ordinarily attracts ram and beef merchants from different parts of the country due to its strategic location is now witnessing low business patronage due to what ram buyers and sellers call exorbitant prices of rams.

Halidu Kurfi, a middle age ram seller, told Weekly Trust that there has been a down turn in his business considering the rising cost of transportation from far north to Lagos. Coming at a time some parts of the country are witnessing fuel scarcity.

“You know the cost of fuel has increased. So the drivers will always tell us that they spend lots of money to bring the rams from north to Lagos. And since we have to recoup our money as well, we are left with no choice than to raise the cost.”

Aside Kurfi, other ram dealers who spoke with Weekly Trust said apart from the skyrocketing prices of the rams, some Islamic adherents prefer   to buy their rams when the Sallah day is much nearer. “And because there would always be a rush at the time, we will also raise our prices. What I’m telling you is that some of these rams you are seeing maybe much more costly when the Sallah is here,” Habeeb Kareem, another ram seller, said.

But the scenario at the popular Ashade/Mangoro cattle market was a bit different. Theirs is the lower the price, the better the deal.

“Between Saturday (October 13 and 17), there was high turnout of buyers here. This is because those cattle you get in other places for about N200,000 are sold here for N180,000 and what you find elsewhere for N120, 000 are what we sell for N100,000 or N90,000, in some cases.