The Chairman, Ram Sellers’ Association, Odo-Ogbe Market, Ile-Ife, Osun, Alhaji Akeem Salahudeen, has complained of low patronage, attributing it to high cost of rams and the economy situation in the country.
Salahudeen stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ile-Ife.
He said that the big sized ram which was sold between N550,000 and N620,000 last year are now being sold at the rate of N800,000 to N1.2 million.
He added that the medium sized ram which was sold between N300,000 and N350,000 last year is now going for between N450,000 and N550,000.
According to him, small sized ram sold for N200,000 and N230,000 last year now attracts N300,000 and N450,000 this year.
He attributed the increase in the prices of rams in this year’s Sallah to the insecurity in the North, which he claimed had disrupted the supply chain.
“They said the worsening insecurity in the North has forced some sellers to import rams from neighbouring countries like Niger, Mali and Chad, which they said contributed to the high prices,” he emphasised.
At Sabo Cattle Market in Ile-Ife, Alhaji Saheed Yaro, said that the price of rams has surged as the small sized ram which was sold at N150,000 and N180,000 last year, is now being sold between N250,000 and N350,000.
Yaro added that the price of medium sized ram which was between N185,000 and N260,000 last year now goes for between N350,000 to N450,000.
Accordingly, the big sized ram sold between N480,000 and N500,000 last year is now between N550,000 and N780,000.
At Boosa Cattle Market located at Modakeke, Mr Musa Salami stated that prices of rams have witnessed sharp increase with a medium sized ram which was for N170,000 to N200,000 last year is now at N250,000 to N300,000.
Salami stated further that the big sized ram that was sold at N350,000 and N400,000 is now being sold at N600,000 to N750,000.
He added that he brought 150 rams a week ago, but has been able to sell only 15, explaining that many customers turned back on hearing prices without buying.
He noted that customers who usually bought rams from him over the years are now complaining about costs.
NAN reports that ram sellers expressed concern over low patronage in many markets, saying that customers were lamenting the high cost of the animals.
A civil servant, Mr Bayo Olabisi, said that most workers in the state cannot afford to buy rams for this year’s Eid-el-Kabir due to the high prices and the economic hardship.
Olabisi added that the present economic hardship has been taken a toll on the workers, especially with the high transportation and other costs following the removal of fuel subsidy by the government.
“In fact, I visited three places where they sell rams, but I couldn’t buy any because I can’t afford to buy.
“When I priced a medium sized ram, the seller told me N250,000, the same size of ram I bought for N150,000 last year.
“I would rather use part of my salary to buy half bag of rice and two chickens for my family.
“For Allah has said that if you can’t afford ram, you should not borrow or buy on credit because there’s no reward on that,“ he said. (NAN)
