Ram traders in the Ibafo, Kara and Agege markets of Ogun and Lagos states on Wednesday lamented low patronage, blaming it on the rising cost and economic downturn as Nigerians gear up for the Eid-El-Kabir celebration.
Traders who spoke with our correspondents separately reported a decrease in patronage compared to the previous year because of the market price increase for rams.
They also stated that the cost of procuring rams from the northern sections of the country had soared, contributing to the exorbitant price they were selling.
Rabiu Abubakar, a trader in the Ibafo market, remarked that patronage was lower than the previous year and that the cost of procuring the rams from the North had an impact on the rams’ pricing.
Rabiu said, “If you were to be here by this time last year, you would not meet people sitting down like this. Last year’s sales were impressive, I’m telling you, but this year’s sales have been slow.’’
“The rams that we sold for N150,000 – N180,000 last year now sell for N250,000 – N280,000, which translates to a 55.5% increase. We cannot buy it cheap at Arewa and sell it at a higher price. We are pricing based on what we were able to buy, which is costlier compared to the previous year.”
Another trader, Sabo Sheu, corroborated the opinion of Rabiu and added that the cost of transport from the North to the West was another factor that had contributed to the rising cost.
The trader stated that buyers were complaining about the price increase, which had resulted in low sales.
“Before, we sold our rams on time, but now, we just sit down because there are no sales. There is no mass movement of customers, and we only see a few customers come into the market,” Sabo lamented.
Chronicle NG gathered that the famous abattoir market in Lagos State’s Agege region was sparsely populated, with only a few traders and customers trading.
In a conversation with our correspondent, dealer Olalere Oriyomi criticised the price difference between last year and this year for rams.
He said, “There’s a huge difference in the price of the rams this year compared to last year. The difference is between N50,000 and N100,000. Rams that were sold for N350,000 last year are now being sold for N500,000 this year.”
Oriyomi also expressed concern about the low patronage caused by the high prices of rams, adding that “usually, the abattoir is supposed to be crowded by now, which is Tuesday, since Sallah is on Friday. But people are not coming to buy rams because of the high cost.”
Another trader, Abu Muhammed, blamed the high ram prices on the high cost of animal feed while lamenting low sales.
“Animal feeds are very costly too, and they contribute to how expensive the rams are this year. Also, the cost of rams is high, and it’s affecting sales because by now, I should have sold all my rams, but people are not coming to buy because they cannot afford the high cost of buying them,” Muhammed said.
A trader who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the buyers were only buying because they did not have a choice, as it is a tradition in Islam to celebrate with a ram.
He said, “A lot of people who are buying are buying because they do not have a choice in the matter. They have been killing rams to celebrate Sallah for years, so they try to get money to buy the one they can afford, despite the cost.”
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government has indicated that it is committed to safeguarding the safety of citizens before and after the celebration period.
The Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, said this in a conversation with our correspondent on Tuesday.
“The government does not fix prices of goods; it is a matter of supply and demand. We are only working hand in hand with security agencies to ensure that lives and property are protected during and after the celebration.
“We urge residents to shun speeding and drive safely as they celebrate,” Akinmade said.
