By Abubakar Yunusa
With days to the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, livestock markets across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and neighboring Nasarawa State have been hit by low patronage as skyrocketing ram prices keep prospective buyers away.
A market survey conducted by People’s Daily across major livestock hubs—including Mararaba, Karu, Kugbo, Apo Cattle Market, and the Abuja Abattoir—revealed that the cost of rams now ranges between N150,000 and N850,000, depending on the size and breed.
Dealers have blamed the sharp price surge on the continuous devaluation of the naira, insecurity, rising transportation costs, and the high price of animal feed.
For Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Babangida, a prominent ram dealer operating in the Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, the current economic climate has dealt a heavy blow to both traders and customers.
“The devaluation of the naira has affected everything; it has lost its buying power,” Babangida said.
“Before now, the biggest ram sold for about N100,000, but today we have rams selling for N750,000 and even N850,000.”
He explained that moving a single animal from northern supply hubs like Gombe, Jigawa, and Sokoto down to the capital region now incurs a transit cost of between N15,000 and N20,000.
Questioning the affordability of the livestock for ordinary citizens, Babangida added: “How can a civil servant earning N75,000 monthly afford a ram of N300,000 or N700,000? The economy is very hard and people are complaining.”
Market findings show a steep trajectory in prices compared to previous years:
Medium-Sized Rams: Sold for N130,000 – N140,000 last year; currently attracting between N185,000 and N220,000.
Large Breeds: Sold for N520,000 – N600,000 last year; now being offered between N750,000 and N850,000.
At the Kugbo market, small rams are clearing for N180,000 to N250,000, while medium variants stand between N300,000 and N500,000.
Another trader, Dahiru Alhassan, noted that supply volumes dropped drastically due to safety and transport concerns.
“Last year I brought about 250 rams and sold all of them. This year I could only bring 120, and up till now, no customer has even bought one,” he said.
The financial squeeze has forced several residents to reconsider their approach to the annual religious sacrifice.
For Nasir Achile, a civil servant, and Danjuma Yusuf, a local plumber burdened by outstanding bank loans, both expressed fears of missing out on the purchase entirely due to tight finances.
Faced with steep commercial rates, some buyers are bypassing regular markets to negotiate directly with herders at village outposts to evade transit markups.
Meanwhile, at the Apo Cattle Market, dealer Abdulkasim Aminu disclosed that the economic pressure is driving a shift in consumer demand.
“We borrowed money to buy these animals expecting good business during Sallah, but buyers are not coming like before.
“Some people now prefer goats because rams are too expensive,” Aminu stated.
With the festival fast approaching, livestock dealers note that some buyers are intentionally delaying purchases until the final hours, holding onto the hope that prices might crash right before Eid-el-Kabir climbs to its peak.
