8th October, 2013
Some members of Nigerian border communities in Baruten Local Government area of Kwara state are buying rams from Benin Republic barely a week ahead of this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
The Eid-el-Kabir is the annual Muslim festival when rams or other lawful animals are sacrificed.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that scores of people were seen carrying rams on motorcycles and vehicles into the country through the various routes linking Nigeria with Benin Republic.
They attributed the development to the cheaper rams in Benin Republic.
Mr Azeez Kora, a resident, told NAN on Tuesday in Kosubosu that the price of ram in Paraque, a neighbouring town in Benin, was lower than what obtained in Nigeria.
“The gap is too much that after the whole expenses from Paraque to Kosubosu, the difference is still reasonable and worthwhile,” he said.
He said that the rams that were being sold for between N45,000 and N50,000 in Nigeria were bought for between N30,000 and N35,000 across the border.
The Ram Sellers Association in Gure in Baruten Local Government area, says its members were recording low sales following importation of the rams from the neighbouring country.
Malam Salihu Kafinta, the chairman of the association, told NAN that aside the scarcity of rams, customers were complaining of lack of money.
According to him, traders that used to come from far and near to patronise the Gure ram market were not seen this year.
He also attributed the poor sales to poor harvests by farmers in the area.
Kafinta said that he was optimistic of better sales before the Eid-el-Kabir festival day.