As Eid-el-Kabir approaches, many Muslims across Lagos and other cities are abandoning the tradition of slaughtering rams and are instead turning to more affordable options such as goats and chickens. Some are even skipping the sacrifice entirely. This shift is largely driven by the sharp rise in ram prices and the prevailing economic hardship.

In Ikorodu, Lagos, Eniola, a middle-aged woman and mother of seven, said her household had no plans to slaughter ram or any substitute.

?We?re not slaughtering ram, and we?re not considering alternatives either. Things are bad, but in every situation, we thank God. Hopefully, things with improve, and we can afford a ram next Sallah,? she said.

?We can?t even afford chicken, turkey, or fish. That?s how tough things are, but Alhamdulillah all the way. It?s been like this for the past five years.?

Adewale, a commercial driver in Lagos, said he opted for a goat this year instead of a ram.

?Last year, I bought a medium-sized ram for N120,000. That same size now costs nearly N250,000. There?s no way I can afford that. I?ve told my children we?ll buy a goat this year. God knows our intention,? he said.

Zainab Yusuf, a 35-year-old provision seller in Agege, said she also would forgo ram this year.

?Usually, I start saving from Ramadan so I can at least buy a small ram for the kids. But this year, everything scattered. Shop rent increased, prices of goods doubled, and sales aren?t moving,? she lamented.

?I priced a ram last week at Agege market?N220,000 for one I could?ve bought for N100,000 last year. I just smiled and left. I?ll buy a turkey or two big chickens, cook well, invite family over, and still celebrate. Sallah isn?t only about rams?it?s about sacrifice, prayer and gratitude.?

The soaring price of rams is a concern for both buyers and sellers. Daboki, a livestock dealer in Ipaja, said prices have risen by at least 45 percent compared to last year.

?This year, rams sell between N200,000 and N950,000, depending on size and breed,? he said.

He blamed the increase on rising feed costs, insecurity in the North, and a growing number of urban breeders. ?We can?t farm openly anymore due to insecurity. Customers buy only what they can afford.?

At Alaba Market, a trader, Abdul-Salam Hassan, said transporting rams from Sokoto to Lagos now costs over N1.5 million.

?Fuel prices, bad roads, and increased feed costs?now N8,000 to N9,000 compared to N3,000 last year?are making rams unaffordable,? he explained.

In Kano, roadside animal markets are popping up, but patronage remains low due to high prices. Sellers are, however, hopeful that sales will pick up closer to Sallah.

Muhammad Awwal, a banker, said he already told his family he can?t afford a ram this year.

?I won?t push myself. A medium size ram costs over N200,000 while cows go for N1 million or more. Slaughtering is not obligatory in Islam. I?ll buy food instead?we can?t do without that,? he said.

Another resident, Kamalu Shehu, said he would rather buy a cow than two expensive rams.

?I was told to pay N250,000 to N350,000 for two rams?too costly. I can get a cow for less,? he said.

For a civil servant, Maiwada Abubakar, he can?t afford a ram this Sallah unless given as charity.

Goats, which are also accepted for sacrifice, are cheaper but less desirable among many households. Still, some like Abubakar are opting for a goats or will join others in buying a cow collectively?a local practice known as Watanda.

At Gandun Albasa, a roadside market filled with cows, camels, and rams, traders sat under makeshift shades, awaiting buyers.

Dauda Yusuf, a ram seller, said patronage is slow.

?Ram prices range from N120,000 to N1 million depending on the buyer?s capacity,? he said.

Anas Abubakar, who sells camels, attributed the price hike to a ban on animal exports by Nigerien authorities.

?Last year, a camel was N750,000 to N950,000. This year it?s around N1.35m,? he noted.

Mubarak Sani, a cow seller at Gandul Albasa, said cow prices start from N500,000 and can exceed N1m, depending on size.

Abuja residents also seek alternatives

In Abuja, some Muslim faithful are adjusting their plans. Weekend Trust observed a decline in the availability of rams in neighbourhood livestock markets, just days before Eid.

Rasheed Ayodeji, a legal practitioner, said he would travel to Nasarawa to buy a goat for N35,000 to N40,000.

?I can?t afford a ram this year. A goat will do,? he said.

Another resident said ram prices had tripled.

?I hope to buy a ram Insha Allah, but if I can?t, I?ll buy a few kilos of meat instead.?

Naffesat Hassan, found at a local ram market, said, ?The price of ram is beyond my reach. Unless a miracle happens before Sallah, I?ll just buy some meat to share with my family.?

Muhammad Abdullahi, another resident, said he may buy three big chickens instead.

?I pray Allah gives me the means to afford a ram next year and to witness the day,? he said.

A visit to the Dei-Dei livestock market and some temporary ram markets around Kubwa town revealed limited ram supply. Many traders from the Northwest skipped the business this year.

Ibrahim Hamisu, a trader from Kano, said the prices doubled due to a border ban by the Nigerien government.

?Rams we bought for N250,000 last year now cost between N450,000 and N500,000,? he said.

Yusuf Abullahi, another trader from Gezawa, said most of the rams are locally ranched and medium or large-sized.

?There?s a shortage of small-sized rams that usually come from Niger Republic,? he added.

Situation similar in Kwara

In Kwara State, animal markets are stocked but customer turnout is low.

?People think we?re making money. We?re just surviving,? said Mallam Moshood, a trader at Surulere in Ilorin.

?Last year, you could get an average ram for N120,000. Now, that same size starts from N200,000.?

At Adeta Roundabout, large rams cost between N350,000 and N480,000. Smaller ones go for around N250,000.

Moshood Aibinu noted that prices can rise even more if the ram is left with the seller until Sallah, due to feeding costs.

Hajia Fasilat Abdulraheem said rams can still be found for around N80,000 with effort.

?There are lots of animals, but very few buyers. Hopefully, sales pick up after salary payments,? she said.

Rising livestock costs are driven by transport issues from northern states like Niger, Sokoto and Borno. Insecurity on interstate roads has led to higher transport fees or route avoidance.

Feed prices have also spiked due to inflation, increasing costs for livestock upkeep.

For civil servants and middle-income earners, the rising prices make the festival financially challenging.

?I budgeted N100,000. But I?m seeing N150,000 for a lean ram. We might have to focus on food, clothes, and other expenses,? said Abdulazeez Aliyu, a father of two.

Traders report poor sales. Selling ten rams in a week is now considered good.

?It?s not booming like before,? said Ismail, a seller at Mandate Market. ?People just look and walk away.?

Still, many are determined to fulfill the spiritual obligation. Some form cooperative groups to buy animals or adopt installment plans.

?It?s about niyyah (intention),? said Ustaz Ismail Mohammad, an Islamic scholar in Ilorin. ?Allah sees the effort, even if you sacrifice something smaller.?

The situation in Kwara reflects how inflation, insecurity and climate challenges are reshaping religious life. The markets remain open, rams still bleat, but behind every price tag lies a story of faith, struggle and adaptation.

For many, this year?s Sallah may be marked by fewer animals?but also by deeper reflection.

Pooling funds for sacrificial cows ahead of Eid-el-Adha

With prices of sacrificial animals soaring ahead of Eid-el-Adha, many Sokoto residents have resorted to pooling funds to afford cows for the annual ritual.

This cooperative method, though not new, has grown in popularity due to the rising cost of livestock.

Mallam Salisu, a resident of Sokoto metropolis, said he and three friends jointly purchase a cow every year.

?We started when individual costs became unbearable. In 2023, each of us contributed N150,000. Last year, it was N250,000. This year, we?re contributing N350,000 each to buy a cow that meets the two-year age requirement.?

He added that the group approach not only fulfills the religious obligation but also provides enough meat to share.

Another resident, who chose anonymity, said he joined a group for the first time due to rising costs.

?I usually slaughter a cow or two rams because of my large family. This year, I joined friends to buy one large cow.?

Others have taken proactive steps by purchasing animals during the off-season when prices were lower.

?I bought a cow for N210,000 and a ram for N80,000 earlier this year. Now, I can?t get those same sizes for the same price,? a resident noted.

Traders also acknowledged the low patronage.

Mallam Murtala Arkilla, a cattle dealer, attributed it to delayed salary payments.

?We hope things improve as the festivities approach,? he said.

As Eid draws near, families in Sokoto continue to find innovative ways to observe their faith?despite economic challenges.

Speaking on the conditions for slaughtering a ram, the national chief Imam of the Al-Habibiyah Islamic Society (AIS) Sheik Fuad Adeyemi, said that it is permissible for a Muslim to borrow money either for goat or ram. ?Someone without job cannot do that, someone who is expecting his or her salary or other payments can borrow since there is an expected avenue of repayment. However, such borrowing must not be where interest is charged on.? Adeyemi said.

He also said that a six-month old ram and a one-year goat is permissible for an individual noting that only seven persons can contribute money to jointly buy a cow that has reached two years and same seven persons can jointly buy a camel that is five years old. (Weekend Trust)

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