As Muslims mark the Eid-el Adha, residents of Rivers, Cross Rivers and Akwa Ibom have decried the soaring costs of rams, citing transportation costs tied to pump prices rather than seasonal fluctuations.

Responding to the survey conducted by journalists, some residents attributed the high cost of ram to a ban by Niger against Nigeria on ram export.

In Rivers, some traders bemoaned low patronage by the Muslims, who they said usually flooded the markets during the celebrations in previous years, and attributed the situation to the high cost of goods and hardship.

Biodun Hakeem, a cattle seller at the popular Mile 3 Market in Port Harcourt, said the 2025 Eid celebration was being observed on a low key by average families.

”A sizable ram that was sold between N200 000 to N250,000 last year currently sells between N450,000- N600,00,” he said.

Hazzan Ismaili, a trader at the Iriebe Cattle Market, also noted that the country’s economic hardship had reduced the purchasing power of many families who wished to perform the Eid rite.

He said the recent ban on ram exports by the Nigerien government had adversely affected the costs, recalling that Nigeria was importing a significant volume of rams and cattle from Niger to augment its domestic production.

On the significance of Eid-al-Adha, Usman Bala, a Muslim cleric at the Elelennwo Central Mosque, said ‘’it commemorates obedience, love and sacrifice as demonstrated by Prophet Ibrahim, who was willing to sacrifice his son on God’s demand.’’

He said although ram slaughtering was important during the celebration, it was not a compulsory Muslim rite, adding, ‘’If you have the financial capacity, do it and also remember to share with neighbours. The Same goes for travelling; one can choose to travel if he can afford it, else, the celebration can take place anywhere.”

In Cross River, Zaharadeen Mukhtar, a livestock dealer in the popular Bogobiri area of Calabar, alleged that restrictions by the Nigerien government and several checkpoints between the north and Calabar were affecting the price of rams.

Mr Mukhtar said that most of the rams sold in Nigeria this year for the Sallah celebration were Nigerian rams, which was not enough and contributed to their high cost.

He added that transporting the rams from the north to Calabar was N30,000, as against N15,000 it was formerly, and with the money paid at the numerous checkpoints on the way, the cost of the ram was much higher.

The dealer said his rams’ cost ranged from N175,000 to N1 million, depending on the size.

In Akwa Ibom, Bello Dahiru at the popular Nasarawa market in Itam, decries the high cost of rams, saying the prices ranged from N220,000, N350,000, N500,000, and N700,000, depending on the size.

He said a ram cost more in 2025 than in 2024, attributing the situation to the cost of transportation.

(NAN)