This is not the best time for Ram Sellers all over the countryPrices of rams have risen in Abeokuta, Ogun, four days to the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
Prices of rams now range between N25, 000 and N80,000 as against N17, 000 and N65, 000 some months ago.
Mr Olanrewaju Sulaimon, a ram seller at Kuto market in Abeokuta South Local Government Area, said that the increase was due to the hike in transport fares.
Sulaimon also attributed the increase to the security situation in the northern part of the country.
Alhaji Ramon Musa, another ram seller at Round about cattle market, Lafenwa, Abeokuta North Local Government Area, said sales had been low.
“Many customers have come to the market but few of them came back to buy the rams.
“I think the high cost of transporting rams to the South-West Zone and the increase in the price of animal feeds affected the prices of the rams,” he said.
Mr Olawale Jinadu, a civil servant in Ogun, expressed concern over the high cost of rams and called on the government to regulate the price, especially during festive periods.
Jinadu expressed regrets that he could not afford the price, saying that he would prefer to spend the little money he had on household needs.
“I just received my September salary on Oct. 8 and I already have bills to settle. I will be very happy if the state government can pay our October salary before the festival,” he said.
The high cost of transportation also affected other food items such as rice and palm oil.
Mrs Olayiwola Johnson, a food stuff seller at Lafenwa market, said a bag of rice now cost N9, 500 as against N9, 000 while a big bag of garri went for N9, 300 as against N8, 000 some months ago
She, however, noted that the price of a 25-litre keg of palm oil remained stable at N6,000.
In Edo, Ram sellers have also lamented low patronage, barely three days to the Eid-el-Kabir festival.
Some of them in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo, attributed this development to the prevailing economic situation in the country.
Alhaji Usman Adamu, a ram seller in Jettu market, blamed the low patronage on cash squeeze in the country.
“Our customers that used to buy our rams, tell us that they don’t have money, while the civil servants are telling us that salary has not been paid.
“Last year, we made a lot of sales due to the early payment of salaries to workers, but this year, the customers are complaining of lack of money,’’ he said.
Adamu appealed to the government to pay salaries ahead of Sallah, to enable Muslims buy the rams.
Another ram seller at Aviele market, Malam Kabiru Sado, said that during past festivities, he was selling an average of 20 rams daily, lamenting that this year, he could hardly sell four per day.
“I used to sell up to 25 rams in a day because people came from other neighbouring villages to buy, but now, I hardly sell four as the buyers complain of lack of money,’’ he said.