Isiyaku Ahmed
The joy of Sallah celebration is in the air, but so, too, is a quiet tension rising among buyers and sellers in Kano’s bustling markets.
In the metropolis where the faithful flock to prepare for one of Islam’s holiest festivals, the soaring costs of essential cooking items and livestock have become a concern.
In Sabon Gari, Yankaba, and the historic Kurmi Market, traders sit behind their stalls with weary expressions, their voices tinged with worry.
A visit to some popular markets on Tuesday morning, buyers are seen bargaining with hope, only to walk away with heavier hearts than hands.
At the popular vegetable and livestock market in Yankaba on Hadejia Road, known for its affordable prices, prices have galloped far beyond the reach of an average buyer.
At a livestock section of the market, a mid-sized Ram, which sold for N100,000 last year, is now selling between N150,000 and N200,000. The larger Rams have surged past N350,000.
Abubakar Musa, a father of five and a regular buyer in the market, shared his frustration: “Every year, we prepare for Eid with joy, but this year, the prices have taken the celebration away from us.
“I came with N120,000 hoping to get a decent Ram, but what I see is beyond that. It breaks my heart.”
Mallam Sani Bello, a livestock dealer in the Sabon Gari section of Fagge local government area, said traders, too, feel the pinch.
He explained that the price surge is not greed, but a reflection of wider economic pressure.
“Transport cost has doubled, and feed is more expensive than ever. We are not making more profit; if anything, we sell less now. People think we are to blame, but we are also struggling,” he added.
Beyond the livestock, essential foodstuffs needed for the traditional Eid feasts have also seen hikes.
In Kurmi Market, Kano’s oldest market, buyers express dismay at the prices of rice, vegetable oil, tomatoes, onions, and spices.
Rukayya Dan Mallam, a mother who had come to the market with her teenage daughter, said: “A bag of rice was N80,000 just a few months ago. Now it is between N85,000 and N90,000. Even onions and peppers are behaving like gold.
She said, “We want to cook and share with neighbors, like we always do, but now we are thinking of cutting everything in half.”
Yusuf Danlami, a spice seller at Kurmi market, said, “The rains are yet to come, fuel prices went up, and transportation is choking the business.”
“People blame us, but we are selling on very thin margins. Sometimes we even borrow to restock.”
Despite the grim mood, a sense of shared struggle binds many in the market together. Buyers and traders, though divided by the buying and selling prices, speak with empathy and understanding.
“It’s hard on everyone,” said Halima Abdul, a youth corps member who had come to Kurmi market with her siblings.
“But we will still celebrate. Eid is about sacrifice and community. Even if we share just a little, we’ll do it with love.”
Religious leaders in the community have begun encouraging modest celebration and greater charity this season, urging those with means to support those who are not well-to-do.
As the crescent moon nears and preparations continue, the air in Kano’s markets may be heavy with economic strain, but the spirit of Eid, rooted in faith, family, and generosity, remains unshaken.
