Prices of rams and other livestock preferred by Muslims for slaughtering during the Islamic festivity of Eid-l-Adha have risen astronomically across northern Nigeria, WikkiTimes can report.
In a survey across Kano, Jigawa, and Bauchi states, prices of average animals that are due for slaughtering as a sacrifice during the festivity have doubled in some instances compared to prices around the same period in 2023. This may be due to rising inflation, changes in fuel prices, and the plummeting value of the naira following the naira’s floating by the Central Bank.
Kano
WikkiTimes reports that the average price of a ram that qualifies for slaughtering ranges from N100,000 and above, while cows range from N300,000 and above in most markets in the Kano metropolitan area. Both sellers and buyers told WikkiTimes that rams and cows have been the favorites of buyers during this season, but they are being alternated with goats and camels in some instances.
A ram supplier in Gandu livestock market, Musa Sammani, said a ram sold for N100,000 the previous year is now worth about N200,000 – N250,000. Sammani added that the price of a medium-sized ram, which cost N150,000 last year, is now most likely to be sold between N300,000 and N400,000. A big ram costs from N500,000 up to N1 million.
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In Hotoro Market, a seller, Bala Bello, said prices of livestock generally have never been this expensive despite being in the business for ages. He said, “I think this year is quite different when you compare the prices with previous years. This year, the cost of rams is very high. We buy them at very high prices and pay for transportation to bring them here. The inflation also is affecting the prices of everything.
“Last year, a ram sold for around N100,000, but this year the price has skyrocketed to N150,000 or even higher.”
During a check at the popular Naibawa livestock market, where rams are gathered for buyers to make their choices, many buyers and sellers were disappointed with this year’s market dynamics. Mustapha Isah said, “This year rams are very expensive because rams that sold last year for between N100,000 and N120,000 are sold between N200,000 and N250,000. There is a significant increase in transportation costs compared to last year. We pay double what we used to pay for transporting them, and whoever is in this business has to add everything together when selling.”
Jigawa
At the popular Shuwarin Market in Jigawa State, where livestock, especially rams and cows, used to be relatively cheaper, the sellers confirmed the significant increase in prices of animals used for the Eid-el-Kabir sacrifice this year.
A seller, Malam Yahaya, said apart from the cost of transportation, the cost of feed has caused the rise in prices. Yahaya said, “A cow sold for N300,000 two years ago now goes for N700,000 or even more. You can get a cow for 1 million or 2 million naira now, which was sold at N550,000 to N600,000 last year.”
“The times are hard; animal feed is now expensive, so most people sell based on what they spend on the animals and the stress that comes with taking care of them,” he added, explaining further, “People don’t buy as much as before except if it’s a must for them. You hear them lamenting as they buy. The smaller animals like the rams are the most bought at the moment. People who buy cows can now only afford rams due to the high prices.”
Another supplier, Dahiru Wudil, lamented low patronage due to the high prices of the animals.
“People hardly patronize us due to the hardship in the country. Even customers who come from other states end up going back without buying. The price of transporting these animals and also feeding them is enough to make prices go up. Some feed is sold at N20,000 to N18,000 naira for a sack.”
Musa Haladu, a seller, told WikkiTimes that the rams he brought to the market could cost half their prices the previous year. “In the morning, they were priced at N70,000 and N80,000, but when I delayed to the evening, I sold them for 85,000 and 95,000 naira respectively. In the past, I could have sold them for the highest of N40,000,” he said.
A buyer, who simply identified as Mal. Ali, reminisced that with the amount he purchased a ram this year, he used to purchase a cow for his household. “With the amount I bought these two medium-sized rams, I used the same money to buy a cow last year. They cost N300,000,” Ali said.
Like Ali, many buyers at the market decried the current economic hardship in Nigeria, making it difficult for them to celebrate the Eid.
Bauchi
Malam Amadu, a regular ram and other domestic animals middleman based in Darazo local government, told WikkiTimes that there is low patronage in the markets these days despite the fact there are only a few days left before Sallah. According to Amadu, regular customers coming from far-off places like Abuja, Kaduna, and parts of southern states are not showing up in the markets to buy rams, goats, and cows in large quantities as only a few of them showed up, suggesting a drop in the purchasing power for these animals.
According to him, due to fewer buyers in the markets, prices of goats and he-goats have fallen, saying with less than N31,000, one can buy a he-goat that can be used for the sacrifices, but said rams are much more expensive. “The markets are low these days. I am just returning from the local market in Konkiyel, and the buyers are not there. People have anticipated higher prices and that’s why they delay bringing their animals to the markets until close to Sallah, but others are now opting for goats which are relatively cheaper,” he said.
For Musa Alhaji, the prices are cost-prohibitive to his little savings, which cannot purchase a he-goat that he earlier thought could be an alternative. “I went to the market with the intention of buying a he-goat (taure) for N20,000 but couldn’t get it. Although I have saved for this purpose, ram prices are higher than my expectation that I had to give up,” he said.
WikkiTimes findings show that many heads of households visited markets in Bauchi, Misau, Darazo, Ganjuwa, Giade, and Warji to purchase Sallah rams but opted for goats as they could not afford resource-consuming rams.
Why We Opt for Camel, Cattle Jointly
Although to an average Muslim family during the festivity, rams remain the most cherished animal for the annual religious ritual, the dearth of resources has constrained families to purchase what they can afford to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha.
Alternatively, many people have decided to contribute money to jointly buy a cow or camel to share and celebrate the festival with their families. Alhaji Idris Abubakar Yakasai said he was at Kofar Na’isa at the instance of friends and neighbors who gathered resources to purchase a cow that will be shared among themselves. “Things are hard, so we decided that four of my friends and I would contribute money to buy a cow and slaughter it jointly. Apart from the fact that it is cheaper to buy either a cow, there is more meat to share after the slaughter,” he said.
Bala Musa told WikkiTimes that after a painstaking market survey, he led seven others to acquire a camel that could serve the same purpose with abundance. Musa explained, “I find it costly to purchase a ram. I have over 10 people in my house, so going for a ram is not even an option for me. So we gathered money and bought a camel that we are going to share among ourselves.”
WikkiTimes found that an average cow that is suitable for people to jointly purchase and slaughter is priced at N500,000 and above. The camel’s price starts from N 400,000 on average. Musa Bashir said there is a substantial increase in the number of people that will jointly slaughter camels and cows this year.
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