Date: 2017-08-25

Barely seven days to the 2017 Eid-el-Kabir Sallah celebrations, ram sellers in Ilorin the Kwara State have raised the alarm over low patronage of the sacrificial animals ROYAL NEWS has gathered.

This, according to them "was as a result of the economic recession which is biting hard on all facets of the nation's economy."

Our correspondent who visited the popular ram selling point along old Jebba road (also known as Agric area) on Thursday gathered that the ram sellers attributed the low patronage to high exchange rate of the naira, high cost of transportation, as well as poor road network from the north down to the south.

According to the Chairman of the Ram Sellers Union of the branch, Mallam Yusuf Roboshobo, cited the Mokwa Bridge in Niger State which has collapsed as a major hindrance towards easy transportation of the animals across to the southern parts of the country.

"Currently, the size of the ram that was sold for N70, 000 last is now about N150, 000 while those of N 30, 000 last are being currently sold for N50, 000 to N60, 000 this year", he added.

He also noted that the non-payment of salaries of local workers as another factor even as he appealed to government at all levels to yield to the yearning of the workforce in order to have positive effect on businesses ahead of the feast.

Similarly, at Ogidi area in the Ilorin south local government of the state, ram dealers appealed to the state government to urgently pay workers salary in order to alleviate many burdens.

Speaking with ROYAL NEWS correspondent, a ram seller, Mr Ahmed Taoheed, said: "Actually, current level of patronage is normal but we still hope for more as soon as salaries are paid."

"The current economic situation in the country is not helping at all. In Kwara State, most of the people are salary earners and we can all notice the payment formular the state Government is adopting these days which is 50 to 70 percent.

"This situation is no doubt affecting our business and we urge government to find succor to this ugly situation", Taoheed said.