Some ram sellers in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, say rising insecurity and low supply from the northwest are driving up prices ahead of the Eid el-Kabir celebrations.
Traders told the News Agency of Nigeria that a combination of border closures and political tensions with neighbouring countries particularly Niger has drastically reduced the number of rams available for sale.
At the Dei-Dei livestock market, Malam Ahmed Mai-Samari said supplies this year were far below expectations, especially from traditional sources like Niger Republic. He explained that dealers are now relying solely on local livestock farmers, which has led to significant shortages.
He added that prices have nearly doubled compared to last year.
“A ram that sold for two hundred thousand naira in 2024 now costs as much as four hundred thousand. Only the wealthy can afford it,” he said.
Prices vary widely depending on the size. Small rams are going for around 150 to 190 thousand naira, with larger ones fetching up to one million.
In Dutse, roadside trader Sanusi Abdullahi also reported poor sales. He said he had sold only seven out of over a hundred rams in the past two days, despite the long distances travelled to source them.
“We’ve had to go from village to village across several states just to gather these animals. It’s expensive and exhausting,” he said.
In Bwari, another livestock seller known locally as “Biggie” echoed concerns about low patronage, blaming inflation and rising living costs. He noted that while many Muslims still wish to take part in the Eid sacrifice, most can no longer afford to do so.
Some buyers have had to make difficult choices.
One buyer, Hameed Raji, said he opted for a goat instead, paying seventy thousand naira, far less than the cost of even the smallest ram.
Another resident, Rukayya Abdullahi, said she and her husband chose to buy three large chickens instead.
“It’s what we can afford this year. We’ll share the meal with our guests and trust that by next Eid, things will be better,” she said.
Eid el-Kabir is one of Islam’s most important festivals and commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. In Nigeria, it’s traditionally marked by the slaughter of rams and shared meals with family and neighbours.
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