A cross-section of Muslims in Ibadan have expressed concern over the soaring prices of rams ahead of the 2026 Eid-el-Kabir celebration, describing the situation as alarming and financially draining.
In separate interviews with both buyers and sellers lamented the impact of the current economic realities on the annual Sallah preparations.
A ram seller, Abdullah Saleh, said although some people are still making efforts to buy rams, sales have remained lower than expected.
According to him, many potential buyers are salary earners who are yet to receive their wages.
“People are still trying to buy, but not the way we expected. Most of those interested are workers whose salaries have not been paid,” he said, expressing hope that sales would improve as the festival approaches.
Another trader, Salisu Abass, attributed the sharp increase in ram prices to the rising cost of transportation caused by high petrol prices.
“A trailer load of rams from Borno to Oyo State used to cost between ₦600,000 and ₦700,000, but now it costs between ₦1.8 million and ₦2 million,” he explained.
According to him, the transportation expenses are eventually transferred to buyers through increased prices of livestock.
“It feels like we are only working for the trailer owners,” he added.
Some buyers also complained bitterly about their declining purchasing power amid the harsh economic climate.
One buyer, who spoke anonymously, said many families are struggling financially but still feel pressured to purchase rams to satisfy family expectations during the celebration.
“The economy is not favourable. Even those buying are groaning because the money is not enough,” the buyer said.
Another resident, AbdulKarim Oyedele, said he arrived at the market with ₦100,000 only to discover that the amount could no longer buy the kind of ram he wanted.
“The ₦100,000 I brought is clearly not enough,” he lamented.
Meanwhile, Islamic scholar Afeez Adegoke urged Muslims to embrace local livestock farming as a long-term solution to the yearly spike in ram prices.
According to him, rearing sheep, goats, and cows locally would reduce dependence on livestock supply from Northern Nigeria while also creating economic opportunities for residents.
A market survey conducted by NAN across major ram markets in Ibadan — including Akinyele, Aleshinloye, Oranyan, Bodija, and Elekuro — revealed that small-sized rams now sell between ₦200,000 and ₦250,000, compared to ₦70,000 to ₦80,000 in 2025.
Medium-sized rams currently cost between ₦300,000 and ₦400,000, while bigger rams are sold for as much as ₦500,000 to ₦900,000.
Beyond the high cost of rams, food prices also remain unstable. A bag of rice, which sold for ₦54,000 in April, now costs ₦67,000, while the price of tomatoes has dropped significantly in recent weeks.