Prices Of Rams Soar

With barely 72 hours to the Muslim festival of Eid-el-Kabir, many Islamic faithful may not be able to slaughter a ram as the prices of the animals in Lagos and its environs have soared.

P.M.NEWS correspondents went round ram markets in Lagos and report that an average ram costs N30,000 as against N25,000 it was sold last year. A big ram goes for N90,000 in some of the areas visited by P.M.NEWS.

The high prices of rams have discouraged buyers considerably. Ram sellers claimed they bought the animals from Kano, Sokoto and other parts of the North at high prices.

The high cost of transportation to Lagos has also contributed to the soaring prices of rams, according to the traders.

At Mile 12, the cost of ram ranged from N30,000 to N95,000. A buyer, Akinade Yusuf, said that prices ram was so high that he bought one for N50,000.

According to a ram seller, Habib Salisu, customers were not coming to buy rams this year compared to last year when there were more customers.

He also said that the prices of rams rose sharply in Kano, added to transportation cost to Lagos.

Habib said that last year he brought 700 rams and sold all, but this year he brought only 300 rams and so far he had not been able to sell half of them.

Another ram trader, Ibrahim Adisa, said that the prices of his rams range from N30,000 to N95,000.

He blamed the Boko Haram uprising in the north for the high prices of rams. Adisa said that in a day, he sold 10-15 rams and 35-40 in a week.

A cow seller, Ola Ogundare, said the prices of his cows range between N95,000-N270,000. He said only few buyers have patronised him inlike last year when he had more customers.

He said he expects more customers today and Saturday.

A ram seller at Ile-Epo bus stop along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Mr. Owolabi, told P.M.NEWS that rams were cheaper last year.

His younger brother, Ishaq Owolabi, said a small ram sold for between N20,000 and N30,000 while big ones sold for N50,000 or more.

He said: “This year, customers are not buying rams because of the money spent on election held in local governments recently.

He advised those that cannot afford rams to make do with chicken and people who cannot afford chicken to buy beef.

Mrs. Alade, who sells onion and vegetable at Ile-Epo market, complained that the forthcoming Sallah festival has not brought her more customers as expected.

A trader, Seriki Abdulazeez, told our correspondent at Alaba Rago, Ojo area of Lagos this morning that the prices of food items have skyrocketed due to the economic situation in the country.

He said: “Rams used to be very cheap in this market, but now only those that have money can buy the animals or goats for Sallah celebration. It is very expensive. I think Nigerian’s bad economy is responsible for this,” he said.

Seriki explained that the cost of transportation has also contributed to the increase in the prices of rams and goats in the country.

“The cost of transportation of these animals is very discouraging. We used to transport a trailer load of rams (at least150) from Kano to Lagos for N70,000, but now, we pay N170,000 for one trailer. This has also affected the supply of rams into Lagos. Last year, we brought in 15 trailersload of rams but this year we only brought in one trailer, that is just 150 rams. So, you can see what we are facing now. Small rams are now sold for 15, 000, the medium size costs 35, 000 while bigger rams cost N50, 000 each,” he added.

A trader who sells goats, Abudulahi Bako, explained that goats are in high demand now, though the prices of the animals have also gone up. As at the time our correspondent visited Abdulahi’s shed he had only two goats left.

“These goats you see here are reserved for my customer who called me yesterday. The challenge I have now is that I didn’t envisage that goats will be in high demand this season. I make more sales during Christamas season, but the case is different now due to the high cost of rams. Goats wouldn’t have been very expensive if not for the increase in demand,” he said.

“I sold small goats between N10,000 and N12,000 each while the big ones are sold for between N15,000 and N18,000 each depending on their types and sizes. This was not the case last year. The price of small goats was N8,000 while big ones were sold for between N10,000 and N 12, 000 last year,” he added.

The prices of other food items like rice, frozen foods and onions have also increased. A bag of rice is now sold for between N8,000 and N9,000. It sold for N7,500 before the Sallah season (depending on the type) while the price of a carton of chickens has increased from N5,500 to N6,600 and a carton of turkey is now sold for between N6,000 and N7,000.

Meanwhile, prices of other condiment and spices remained stable except for tomato, pepper and onions. A basket of tomatoes purchased from Cotonou costs N5,000 from (N3,000) while a basket of tomatoes purchased at Mile 12 has increased from N6,000 to N8,000.

A buyer at Alaba Rago market lamented that Nigerians can not afford the increase in the prices of food items including rams.

—Moyo Fabiyi, Olaoye Emmanuel, Kashimana Beba & Akinola Oluwatobi