As this year’s Eid-el-Kabir is fast approaching, Muslim faithful in Ondo State have lamented high cost of ram which is synonymous with Sallah celebration.
Those who spoke with Positive FM In Akure said many Muslims may not celebrate this year’s Sallah with ram as the price keeps soaring.
Two of them, Alhaji Taofeek Ojo and Alhaja Risikat Kewulere noted that the cost of ram had gone beyond their budget for the celebration calling on government to provide Palliatives for Nigerians as the removal of fuel subsidy had resulted in hardship for them.
Similarly, muslim faithful in Akoko area of Ondo State are struggling to purchase ram for this year’s Eid-el-Kabir due to the high cost of the commodity.
A muslim leader and a member of the Nigeria Inter Religious Council, NIREC, Akoko northwest local government area Alhaji Jimoh Ayegboka who visited the ram market along Akungba road said he had been killing rams for the past 30 and that this year would not be different.
Alhaji Ayegboka called on Nigerian muslims to celebrate the annual festival with moderation.
Another muslim faithful, Alhaji Abu Balogun emphasised on the need for people to appreciate Allah for the gift of life and not brood over their inability to buy ram for this year’s sallah.
A market survey in most markets across Ondo State shows that rams now sell between N70,000 and N120,000 depending on the size.
….. Nasarawa Residents set to mark Sallah with ram despite high cost..
Livestock Central Market in Lafia the Nasarawa State capital has continued to record large turnouts of Muslim faithful who were making final purchases ahead of the festival.
There was sharp increase in prices of animals especially ram in the market.
When Radio Nigeria visited the popular Livestock Central Market Shingye in Lafia the Nasarawa State capital , it was observed that the ram section of the market was overwhelmed with buyers and sellers.
In an interview, a ram dealer , Alhaji Maikasuwa Adamu stated that the price of ram had gone up due to the hike in transportation fare following the removal of fuel subsidy.
While a buyer, Mallam Haruna Hamza said he had set aside seventy thousand Naira to purchase three rams for the celebration as he had done in the previous years due to the size of his family but he ended up with one considering the high cost of the animal.
Also speaking, Mallam Danladi Bala who had just bought a moderate size of ram at the rate of N70,000 Naira said the animal would have cost between thirty and thirty five thousand Naira before the period but he thanked God that he could afford it.
Spokesperson for the Livestock Market Alhaji Ado Balarabe called on government to set up price regulatory agency to check exploitation by dealers especially during festivities.
..Kano Ram sellers decry low patronage..
Few days to eid-ul-adha, ram sellers in kano State, have expressed dissatisfaction with the low turn out of eligible buyers this year.
Reports indicate that, animal markets are scanty due to lack of customers to purchase cows, camels and rams for sacrifice
In an interview, the chairman Gandun Albasa animal market association , Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed explained that, the price of rams ranging from thirty thousand, fifty thousand and above is available at the market.
He, attributed the increase in the price of animals in 2023, to high cost of animal feeds and transportation.
The chairman noted that, the low turn out of eligible buyers was discouraging compared to last year, where most sellers succeeded in selling, almost all the sacrificial animals before sallah day.
Alhaji Yusuf urged the public, to desist from purchasing animals from road side markets ,to avoid falling into the hands of scammers and thieves.
“The country’s economic situation is a major setback to commercial activities”
Two of the sellers, Andulmalik Auwal Sabo Musa and Abdulqadir Hambali attributed the low patronage to financial constraints on their part.