By Amuda Dan Sulaiman Fab
As Eid-el-Kabir approaches, many Muslims across Nigeria are abandoning the tradition of slaughtering rams and are instead turning to more affordable options such as goats and chickens.
Some are even skipping the sacrifice entirely. This shift is largely driven by the sharp rise in ram prices and the prevailing economic hardship.
In Lokoja, a middle-aged woman and mother of seven, said her household had no plans to slaughter ram or any substitute.
âWeâre not slaughtering ram, and weâre not considering alternatives either. Things are bad, but in every situation, we thank God. Hopefully, things will improve, and we can afford a ram next Sallah,â she said.
âWe canât even afford chicken, turkey, or fish. Thatâs how tough things are, but Alhamdulillah all the way. Itâs been like this for the past five years.â
Dauda Shehu, a commercial driver in Lokoja, said he opted for a goat this year instead of a ram.
âLast year, I bought a medium-sized ram for N120,000. That same size now costs nearly N250,000. Thereâs no way I can afford that. Iâve told my children weâll buy a goat this year. God knows our intention,â he said.
Zainab Yusuf, a 35-year-old provision seller in Felele, said she also would forgo ram this year.
âUsually, I start saving from Ramadan so I can at least buy a small ram for the kids. But this year, everything scattered. Shop rent increased, prices of goods doubled, and sales arenât moving,â she lamented.
âI priced a ram yesterday at Livestock Market UkumiâN220,000 for one I couldâve bought for N100,000 last year. I just smiled and left. Iâll buy a turkey or two big chickens, cook well, invite family over, and still celebrate. Sallah isnât only about ramsâitâs about sacrifice, prayer and gratitude.â
The soaring price of rams is a concern for both buyers and sellers. Alhaji B. B. Umar, Chairman, B B Umar Livestock Market Ganaja said prices have risen by at least 25 percent compared to last year.
âThis year, rams sell between N200,000 and N450,000, depending on size and breed,â he said.
He blamed the increase on rising feed costs, insecurity in the North, and a growing number of urban breeders. âWe canât farm openly anymore due to insecurity. Customers buy only what they can afford.â
He said transporting rams from Sokoto to Lokoja now costs over N1.5 million.
âFuel prices, bad roads, and increased feed costsânow N8,000 to N9,000 compared to N3,000 last yearâare making rams unaffordable,â he explained.
Umar appealed to the federal government to always empower livestock dealers through soft loans during and after festivals.
In Lokongoma, roadside animal markets are popping up, but patronage remains low due to high prices. Sellers are, however, hopeful that sales will pick up closer to Sallah.
Muhammad Awwal, a teacher, said he already told his family he canât afford a ram this year.
âI wonât push myself. A medium size ram costs over N200,000 while cows go for N1 million or more. Slaughtering is not obligatory in Islam. Iâll buy food insteadâwe canât do without that,â he said.
For a civil servant, Yahaya Usman, he canât afford a ram this Sallah unless given as charity.
Goats, which are also accepted for sacrifice, are cheaper but less desirable among many households. Still, some like Usman are opting for a goat or will join others in buying a cow collectivelyâa local practice known as Watanda.
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