According to a news report from Daily Trust, ahead of the 2024 Eid el-Kabir celebration, ram sellers in Ilọrin, Kwara State, have expressed concerns over the high cost of rams.

Alfa Ibrahim Ismail, a ram seller at Mandate Market, highlighted the burden of feeding and caring for the animals due to the rising cost of commodities.

Hajia AbdulRaheem noted that the price of rams has significantly increased, with the cost for an average ram this year ranging from N90,000 to N250,000, compared to N40,000 to N150,000 last year.

Usman Adio, a ram seller in Offa, attributed poor sales to the increased transportation costs from the far North to Offa.

He said, “Returning the unsold rams would be a bigger loss; that’s why we are urging the federal government to look into our transportation system and make it easier for the masses.”

Abu Yasir, a rams’ seller around Oko-Erin, Ilọrin, said the situation called for concern.

On his part, a customer, Daddy Maryam, said he would opt out of buying a ram this year to buy foodstuffs to make the home happy.

He said, “When I went to shop for a ram, what I got was N200,000 and above. As a mechanic, where would I get such money just for a ram?”

Musa Kannike, the Vice Chairman of the Kwara State Association of Ram, Goat and Sheep Sellers, at the Mandate Market, Ilorin, explained that the importation of rams into the North from other countries was limited due to numerous challenges.

He explained that despite the high cost, ram sellers at the Mandate Market had tried to lower prices to encourage customers.

He further said, “We have brought down the prices as low as 50, 60 and 70,000 naira, with some rams even going for a 100, 200, and up to 400,000 naira to make them more affordable for our customers.”