Sallah: Muslims express frustration at rams’ soaring prices in Oyo

As Eid-el-Kabir approaches, a palpable sense of frustration is gripping the Muslim community in Ibadan, Oyo State, due to the exorbitant prices of rams. Both buyers and sellers are lamenting the situation, with consumers struggling to meet the financial demands of this significant religious observance.

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A trailer load of rams from Bornu to Oyo State used to cost between N600,000 and N700,000, but now, it is between N1.8 million and N2 million.

The sellers, while acknowledging the high prices, point to external economic factors as the primary culprits. Malam Salisu Abass explains that the cost of transporting rams from Borno State to Oyo has skyrocketed, more than tripling due to increased petrol prices. This surge in logistics costs is inevitably passed on to the consumers, making the rams significantly more expensive than in previous years.

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No matter how cheap the rams are, the people’s purchasing power is weak. The money to buy them is the problem; the economy is not favourable.

Buyers, on the other hand, are grappling with diminished purchasing power in an economy that many describe as unfavorable. The anonymity of one buyer highlights the widespread struggle, stating that even those managing to buy are doing so out of obligation to elderly parents or children, often groaning under the financial strain. The stark increase in prices, with small rams now costing between ₦200,000 and ₦250,000 compared to ₦70,000-₦80,000 last year, underscores the severity of the economic challenges facing ordinary Nigerians. Islamic scholars are urging Muslims to consider local rearing of livestock to mitigate such yearly inflations and reduce reliance on long-distance transport.

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The N100,000 I have with me is obviously not enough to buy me one.