PHOTOS: Ram sellers lament low patronage as ‘border closure, harsh economy’ push prices beyond N1m

BY MANSUR IBRAHIM AND PRECIOUS OGBUENYI

Ram sellers across the country are grappling with low patronage as prices hit record highs, crossing the N1 million mark in some markets ahead of the Eid al-Adha celebrations.

When TheCable visited livestock markets in Ogun state and the federal capital territory (FCT), several sellers and buyers voiced concerns over the effect of the country’s economic downturn on the seasonal trade.

Murtala Abdullahi, a Lagos resident, said he was shocked at the spike in prices this year.

“I bought two rams last year for N500,000, but this year, I’m buying one ram for N500,000 and another for N700,000. The price is crazy, but what can we do? It’s the Nigerian economy,” he said.

At Kugbo livestock market in Abuja, some rams were priced at N1 million and above, yet sellers said buyers are few and far between.

Shamsudeen Lawal, a ram dealer, said the market is slow despite having a large supply.

“Last year, the entire market was filled with rams, but this time, customers who used to buy 100 rams now buy 30 or 50 because there is no money,” he said.

Lawal added that Nigeria’s dependence on livestock imports from neighbouring countries, particularly Niger Republic, has worsened the situation due to border closures.

“Most of the rams we slaughter here in Nigeria are from Niger Republic, and the close of the border has created a shortage,” he said.

Lawal called on the government to invest in local livestock farming to ease the country’s reliance on imports.

“The government needs to empower our farmers so that we can rear our own animals and not go to neighbouring countries to buy them. This will make our country great, even if anyone closes their border,” Lawal said.

Below are photos from Ogun state and Abuja.

KARA LIVESTOCK MARKET, OGUN