Eld-el-Kabir: Residents lament high cost of rams

dimeji akinloye

September 22, 2015 7:09 PM

Mr Sulaiman Kazeem, who came to buy ram at Bariga Ram Market, said that the prices of rams in the market were on the high side.

Cattle depot in Lagos

Some residents of Lagos, who went to different ram markets on Tuesday to buy rams for the Eld-el-Kabir, had lamented high cost of rams two days to the celebration.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that in spite of the economic crunch most of the rams brought to the state were unaffordable.

Mr Sulaiman Kazeem, who came to buy ram at Bariga Ram Market, said that the prices of rams in the market were on the high side.

"In fact, we thought because there is scarcity of funds in circulation, prices of rams will be affordable.

"I came to this market with N45, 000 thinking that I will get a medium price ram at the price.

"To my surprise, the least medium ram here cost N60, 000 this is too much.

"The dealers should consider the fact that there is no money, everybody is just trying to kill ram to mark the festival," he said.

Kazeem said that he needed to add another N15, 000 to the money he brought to the market in order to buy his choice ram.

Alhaji Lawal Rabiu, another buyer at Itire ram market, said that he was fortunate to get his ram at N30,000.

Rabiu said that though the ram was small, he was happy that his family would have something to celebrate with.

"There are some people who could not afford to buy a ram, but we should be grateful to God for gift of life," he said.

Alhaji Wada Ismael, the Chairman, Olaleye Ram Market, Iponri, complained that high cost of transportation fares and feeding contributed to the high cost of livestock.

Ismael, however, said that the price would come down after the festive period

He said when compared this period with that of 2014, the prices of rams were almost the same only that the market was dull.

NAN reports that the price of a big rams in most of the markets are between N75,000 and N90,000

The medium size rams also cost between N40,000 and N60,000 while the smaller ones goes between N25, 000 and N35,000. (NAN)

In Calabar, NAN survey revealed that the prices of rams had reduced compared to 2014, but ram sellers decried low patronage.

NAN survey in Bagobiri market Calabar, indicated that a big ram which was sold last year for between N60, 000 and N70, 000 was selling for between N45, 000 and N50, 000 this year.

Similarly, a middle-sized ram goes for between N35, 000 and N40, 000 as against N45, 000 and N50, 000 in 2014.

NAN also reports that a small-sized ram now goes for between N30, 000 and N35, 000.

Alhaji Isyaka Mohammed, Chairman, Ram Sellers Association, Bagobiri market Calabar, told NAN that the reduction in the prices was due to gradual return of peace in the north east region.

"Usually, we buy Ram from Gombe, Taraba, Adamawa and Borno, but because of Boko Haram insurgency we were unable to go there to buy; rather we resorted to buying from Cameroon.

"But with the gradual return of peace now, we go to North East to buy Ram; so, that is why the prices had to come down," he said.

NAN reports that some Muslim faithful in the city have taken advantage of the situation to buy ram for their EId-El-Kabir.

dimeji akinloye