As preparations for the Eid-el-Kabir celebration get underway, ram prices in Kebbi State have surged, causing many would-be buyers to delay their purchases despite ample supply in major markets.
Read more: Eid-el-Kabir: Ram Prices Surge in Kebbi MarketsA visit to several livestock markets across the state revealed that, although rams are readily available, patronage has dropped due to the steep prices.
In Ambursa and Kalgo markets, small rams are priced between N100,000 and N200,000, while medium-sized ones go for N300,000 to N500,000. Larger rams command prices ranging from N600,000 up to N1 million, depending on their breed and size.
Residents say these prices are much higher than in previous years, making the animals unaffordable for many families.
Ibrahim Sulaiman, one prospective buyer at Ambursa market, voiced his concerns: “The prices are too high this year. We are hoping they will drop as Sallah approaches, because many families cannot afford to buy now.”
Umar Aliero, a civil servant at Kalgo market, said he had postponed his purchase due to the current economic realities. “There are many responsibilities ahead of the celebration. Buying a ram at the current price is difficult for many families,” he noted.
According to Sale Unabale, a livestock dealer at Ambursa market, the price hike is driven by rising transportation and feeding costs, as well as insecurity along livestock supply routes in northern Nigeria and neighboring states. “Transport fares and the cost of feeding the animals have gone up significantly. Insecurity on some routes is also impacting supply, and all these factors contribute to the high prices of rams,” he explained.
Unabale added that temporary ram markets have sprung up in several parts of Birnin Kebbi, as traders seek new ways to attract buyers. He also observed that some sellers now take rams directly to residential neighborhoods, displaying them in front of homes, shops, and along major roads in the state capital in hopes of finding customers.
