Eid: Ram Prices Scare Buyers As Sales Drop

By Ademu Idakwo, Abuja; Joshua Dada, Osogbo; Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin; Hussaini Hammangabdo, Yola; Aza Msue, Kaduna; Abu Nmodu, Minna; Longtong Yakubu, Kano and Babaji Usman Babaji,  Gombe

As Muslims across Nigeria prepare for the 2026 Eid-el-Kabir celebration, rising prices of rams and other sacrificial animals have triggered concerns among buyers and sellers, with many lamenting worsening economic hardship, inflation and declining purchasing power.

Investigations by LEADERSHIP SUNDAY across major livestock markets in Abuja, Osun, Kwara, Adamawa, Kaduna, Niger, Kano and Gombe states showed that prices of rams, goats and cows have increased sharply compared to last year, while patronage remained generally low despite the approaching Sallah celebration.

Traders attributed the development to high transportation costs, insecurity affecting livestock supply routes, rising animal feed prices and increasing demand for livestock across the country.

A visit to Kugbo ram and goat market and Apo cattle market in Abuja showed that although the markets were filled with rams and other livestock, many intending buyers could only inspect the animals without making purchases.

At the Kugbo market, small-sized rams sold between N180,000 and N250,000, medium-sized ones between N300,000 and N500,000, while bigger breeds sold for as high as N700,000 and above.

 

A ram seller, Musa Ibrahim, said business had remained slow despite the influx of animals into the Federal Capital Territory.

 

“People come to price the rams, but many cannot afford them. Last year, business was better than this. Everything is expensive now, including transport and feeding of the animals,” he said.

 

Another trader at Apo cattle market, Suleiman Haruna, said many buyers were turning to goats because rams had become too expensive.

 

“We borrowed money to buy these animals hoping to make profit during Sallah, but buyers are not coming like before. Some people now prefer goats because rams are too expensive,” he said.

 

Some prospective buyers said they were postponing purchases until closer to Sallah in the hope that prices might reduce.

 

In Osun State, buyers and traders also lamented the increase in prices of sacrificial animals.

 

A visit to Sabo ram market in Osogbo revealed a heavy presence of prospective buyers but low sales due to the high prices of livestock.

 

A livestock dealer, Alhaji Rasaq Aderemi Adejumobi, told LEADERSHIP SUNDAY at his ranch in Agunbelewo, Osogbo that patronage had dropped significantly compared to the same period last year.

 

According to him, a small-sized ram that sold for about N160,000 last year now costs around N200,000, while medium-sized rams now sell for over N400,000.

 

He blamed the situation on rising transportation costs and increasing livestock demand from neighbouring countries.

 

“Look at that big ram, its size sold for N1.3 million last year. Somebody recently offered N1.5 million for one but the owner still asked for additional money,” he said.

 

A prospective buyer, Mallam Abdulfatai Oke, said he might wait until Sallah morning before buying in the hope that prices would reduce.

 

“I will wait till Sallah morning and hope prices come down a bit because I don’t really have an option,” he said.

 

In Kwara State, investigations at Ipata, Sango and Mandate livestock markets in Ilorin showed that large-sized rams sold between N1.8 million and N2 million, while medium-sized rams cost between N650,000 and N800,000.

 

Smaller rams sold between N100,000 and N300,000, while goats sold for about N60,000 and above.

 

A livestock seller at Ipata market, Malam Aliyu Oladoke, said prices had increased by almost 100 percent compared to last year due to insecurity and high transportation costs following the increase in fuel prices.

 

A civil servant, Ayodeji Sulaiman, lamented that his monthly salary could no longer purchase a ram.

 

“My salary is about N120,000 and I still have to provide for other domestic needs,” he said.

 

Another resident, Aliyu Muhammad, said there was little hope of buying a ram this year because of the difficult economic situation.

 

In Adamawa State, some Muslims said they had resorted to slaughtering goats instead of rams because of the soaring prices.

 

A visit to the Bye-Pass livestock market in Yola showed that a large “Balami” ram sold for as much as N600,000, while sizeable “Dankasa” rams sold from N250,000 upward depending on size.

 

A livestock seller, Musa Mai Awaki, blamed the increase on the high cost of feeding and transporting animals from rural communities to urban centres.

 

He also lamented low patronage despite the large supply of animals in the market.

 

A buyer, Saidu Ibrahim, said he had decided to slaughter goats instead because he could not afford a ram this year.

 

In Kaduna State, residents also decried the rising cost of rams ahead of the Sallah celebration.

 

At the Tudun Wada market, prices ranged between N200,000 and N1 million depending on size, while at Kawo market, rams sold between N150,000 and N300,000 and above.

 

A livestock seller, Aminu Sani, blamed the development on rising transportation costs.

 

“Before, movement of animals from one state to another was not expensive, but transportation costs are now far higher than last year,” he said.

 

He appealed to wealthy individuals to support less privileged families during the Sallah period.

 

In Niger State, traders said ram prices had increased by nearly 100 percent compared to last year.

 

A small-sized ram that sold for about N100,000 last year now sold between N150,000 and N200,000, while medium-sized rams sold between N300,000 and N350,000.

 

Large-sized rams sold between N400,000 and N950,000.

 

A trader, Alhaji Mohammed Maikaji, said restrictions affecting livestock supply from neighbouring Niger Republic and rising transport costs contributed to the increase in prices.

 

“Despite all these, we are still having low patronage. Yesterday I did not sell a single ram,” he said.

 

In Kano State, major livestock markets at Gandun Albasa and Goron Dutse were also witnessing low patronage despite the large supply of animals.

 

At Gandun Albasa market, small-sized rams sold between N150,000 and N250,000, while medium and large-sized rams sold between N300,000 and N1 million depending on breed and size.

 

Chairman of the Animal Dealers Association, Bashir Sule, blamed the increase on rising feed and transportation costs.

 

“Last year, a bag of animal feed sold between N10,000 and N13,000, but this year it costs about N25,000,” he said.

 

Some buyers expressed frustration over the prices, saying many families had been forced to reduce the number of animals they intended to purchase for the celebration.

 

 

In Gombe State, residents also complained about the rising prices of sacrificial animals.

 

A market survey across livestock-selling points in Gombe metropolis showed that medium-sized rams sold between N180,000 and N280,000, while larger breeds sold between N350,000 and N550,000.

 

Goats sold between N70,000 and N150,000, while cows cost between N500,000 and over N1 million.

 

A resident, Mustapha Isah, said prices had risen significantly compared to last year.

 

“I bought a medium-sized ram for around N140,000 during last year’s Sallah. This year, the same size is above N200,000,” he said.

 

A livestock dealer, Ibrahim Adamu, attributed the increase to rising transport and feeding costs, noting that many buyers were delaying purchases in the hope that prices would drop before Eid-el-Kabir.