Momoh Umar Momoh, Benin
Ram sellers in Benin City, Edo State capital have blamed the low patronage of buyers to the high cost of buying a ram ahead of the Sallah celebration.
Some sellers at Eayen cattle and Aduwawa markets along the Benin-Auchi road, who spoke to newsmen on Thursday in Benin City noted that in the last three days they have recorded a few sales.
Nafiu Yushau at the Eayen cattle Market said the prices of ram in the market ranged between N180,000, N200,000, N250,000, N320, N350,000, N400,000
and above.
Yushau from Adamawa State said there is a drop of patronage when compared to last year.
“By this time last year, we have made enough sales but now things are not good at all, since morning, I haven’t sold any at all.
“The lowest price one could get in the market is N180,000. Even goat is also on the high side, as none is less than N80 000”, he said.
On his part, Haruna Saliu Abubakar, said the cost of the biggest ram in the market is over N1million.
Abubakar also added that they found it difficult to make sales because customers particularly the Muslims are not coming to buy from them due to the hardship in the country.
“As you can see we are just sitting here waiting for prospective buyers and we hope that they will patronize us before the Salah festival. The patronage received so far is nothing compared to last year.
“The biggest ram in the market is over N1 million. We are praying that Allah will definitely provide buyers for us before Friday,” he added.
As speaking, Abu Yaro, attributed the high cost of ram and cow to the closure of the nation’s borders with the neighbouring countries.
Yaro, also attributed the high cost of transportation fares to the high cost of buying sacrificial animals.
He said it cost about N1.7 million to transport a truck load of animals from the North to Benin City.
“We get ram and cow from the neighbouring countries and the borders are shut now and because of this, a cow of N1 million before, now sold for between N1.3 million and N1.5 million.
“Everything now is times two of what we used to buy before. Now a ram of N120,000 is sold for N200,000 and above while that of N150,000 now goes for between N250,000 and N300,000 respectively.
“Livestocks are scarce in Nigeria and we usually rely on the neighbouring countries to get these animals during the Sallah period when the demand is high”, he stated.
A buyer, Alhaji Ibrahim Haruna, who also spoke newsmen at the market stated that getting a ram for the Sallah celebration is very difficult this year.
Haruna lamented that the size of the ram he bought N150,000 last year, is now sold for N400,000 while that of N200,000 is now N500,000.
“Where can one get such money only for ram while rice and other items are waiting”, he queried.
He, however, noted that Allah did not make it compulsory for those who do not have the means, just as he added that any one who couldn’t afford it this year can do so next year.
