Barely four days to the Eid el-Kabir celebration, the prices of rams have risen by over 85 per cent in the area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This is even as ram sellers are complaining of low patronage, which the customers are attributing to high cost of the animals and the economy situation in the country.

Findings by our reporter on Monday showed that the prices had gone up, far beyond last year, with many faithful saying they are finding it difficult to afford the animal for sacrifice.

At the cattle market located at Unguwar Sabon Tasha in Abaji Area Council where rams are sold, a small ram which was sold at between N120 and N150,000 last year is now sold between N200,000 to N250,000 this year.

A middle size ram which was also sold for N200,000 and N230,000 last year now goes for between N270,000 and N300,000, while the big sized ram which was sold at between N300,000 and N350,000 is now sold at N450,000 and N520,000. The bigger ones that were sold last year for between N560,000 and 620,000 are now sold at N800,000 to N1.2 million.

At a cattle market in Kwali Area Council, findings also showed that prices of rams this year have surged as the medium sized ram which was sold at N120,000 and N140,000 last year, is now sold at between N180,000 and N230,000 while a big sized ones which were sold at N185,000 to N260,000 last year now go for between N340,000 and 450,000 while a bigger sized ones which were sold at N480,000 and N500,000 now go for N550,000 to N780,000.

At Gwagwalada cattle market located along Gwako-Giri-Abuja-Lokoja highway, findings also showed that prices of rams have witnessed sharp increase with a medium sizes ram, which went for N170,000 to N200,000 last year, is now sold at N250,000 and N300,000, while the big sized ones that were sold at N350,000 and N400,000 are now sold at N600,000 and N75,000.

Further findings in Kuje cattle market, located at Tipper garage junction, along the Airport Road, also showed that the price of rams this year has witnessed high increase as the medium sized ones that went for N130,000 and N160,000 last year are now sold at between N200,000 and N260,000 while the bigger sized ones that were sold at N250,000 and N280,000 now cost N320,000 and N450,000.

Our correspondent?s findings at Zuba cattle market and the old Abattoir in Garki Abuja, showed that the prices of rams have increased with the medium sized ones that went for N200,000 to N250,000 last year now sold at N250,000 and N300,00 while the big ones which went for between N300,000 and N350,000 are now sold at N420,000 and N530,000.

Ram sellers lament low patronage

Ram sellers have also expressed concerns over low patronage by customers in many ram markets sampled in the nation?s capital.

Some ram sellers who spoke with our correspondent, said majority of customers had not been able to patronise them because of what some of them blamed on the high cost of the sacrificial animals.

Mallam Garba Shehu, a ram seller in Zuba, said he brought 120 rams a week ago, but has been able to sell only 11, adding that many customers turned back on hearing the prices.

Another ram seller, Kabiru Ibrahim, complained of a lack of patronage from customers, saying some mostly came around to the price and then left without buying.

He said he brought 135 pieces of rams of different sizes from Sokoto State but has only sold one more than a week ago.

?Today, it has been one week since I brought these rams you see here, but many customers, when we tell them the price, they will just go without returning,? he said.

He said some of his customers who usually bought rams from him over the years are now complaining about money.

Why the high price of rams ? Dealers

Some ram sellers have attributed the increase in the prices of rams in this year?s Eid el-Kabir sallah celebration in the country to the insecurity in the North, which they said has disrupted the supply chain.

They said the worsening insecurity in the North has forced some sellers to import rams from neighbouring countries like Niger, Mali and Chad, which they said contribute to the high prices.

?As a reporter, I believe you know that insecurity has worsened in the North in the last two to three months, as cattle rustlers are attacking villages and rustling animals and killing the owners. I think this alone is enough for the price of rams to increase this year,? one of them said.

He also said alongside the reduction in supplies, there is still low patronage by customers, adding that some of his customers have been complaining of a lack of money to buy rams.

We can?t afford rams with our salaries ? Civil servants

Some civil servants who spoke with our reporter said they cannot afford to buy rams with their salaries for this year?s Eid al-Adha Sallah due to the high price and the economic hardship in the country.

A cross-section of civil servants interviewed said the present economic hardship in the country has been taking a toll on them, especially with the high transportation and other costs following the removal of fuel subsidy by the government.

Mr. Yakubu Al-Hassan, a civil servant, who spoke with our reporter, said he would not be able to buy a ram this year due to high prices.

He said he visited three places where rams were sold but was unable to buy one due to the surge in the price, saying he has resolved to, instead, buy two chickens for his family to celebrate the Sallah.

?In fact, I visited three places where they sell rams, but I could not buy any because my salary can?t afford to buy one. When I priced a medium size ram, the seller told me N220,000. This is the same size of ram that I bought for N140,000 last year,? he said.

Al Hasan said he would rather use part of his salary to buy half a bag of rice and two chickens for his family, adding that ?Allah has said if you can?t afford, you should not borrow or buy ram on credit because there?s no reward on that,? he said.

Another civil servant, Mukaila Mohammed, who also spoke with our reporter, complained that the price of rams this year is beyond his means, saying his salary could not afford to buy a ram due to the high price this year.

A primary school teacher, Gambo Abdullahi, who also spoke with our reporter, said he could not afford to buy a ram this year due to his meagre salary compared to the prices of the animals.

He said the council chairmen have failed to pay teachers? backlog of salaries, which he said led to the ongoing strike action.

?If area council chairmen had paid the teachers their eight months? arrears, one would have been able to manage and buy one,? he said.

Mukaila expressed concern that the rising price of rams is making it difficult for ordinary people to celebrate the festival by sacrificing rams.

He said several primary school teachers in the FCT would not be able to buy rams this year, not only because of the increase in the price alone, but due to the non-payment of the backlog of their unpaid salaries and other entitlements owed them by the area council chairmen. (Daily Trust)

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