Many Lagos residents say rising prices of rams, cows and food items ahead of Eid-el-Kabir may force families to reduce spending or forgo buying sacrificial animals this year.
As Muslims prepare for Eid al-Adha celebrations, many residents in Lagos have lamented the sharp increase in the prices of rams, cows and other food items, with some families saying they may scale down their spending or skip the purchase of sacrificial animals entirely. During a visit by Vanguard Live to Ile Epo Market, several buyers blamed inflation, transportation costs and rising fuel prices for the surge in livestock prices ahead of the festival.
One resident, Kayode, said many households had been forced to rethink their Sallah budgets after discovering that ram prices now range between N600,000 and N750,000. “We are going to buy, but we have to reduce the quantity because of the price,” he said. A 72-year-old retiree, Remi, also described the situation as difficult for pensioners and low-income earners. “Before, I could buy two rams for N400,000 but even to get one is hard,” she lamented, adding that she may not celebrate Sallah fully this year because of the high costs.
Traders at the market also admitted that patronage has dropped significantly compared to previous years. A livestock seller identified as Bukalanga said many customers now complain about hardship and leave without making purchases. “Truthfully, the price is unaffordable, and it is because of the hike in fuel prices. Even the cost of feeding the ram is expensive now,” he said, noting that business this year has been slower than during past Eid celebrations.
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