Ram dealers in Kano State are expressing concern over low patronage just days before the Eid ul Kabir festival.
A visit to the Gandun Albasa Animal Market revealed that many sellers spent the day idly, with very few buyers showing interest in purchasing sacrificial animals.
Speaking to Radio Nigeria, the chairman of the market, Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed Muhammad, said that although many people visit the market to inquire about prices, only a few make purchases.
He noted that while some customers are able to buy smaller rams priced between ₦80,000 and ₦150,000, most cannot afford the larger ones.
Current market prices, he said, range from ₦80,000 to ₦1 million for rams, ₦250,000 to ₦2 million for cows, and ₦500,000 to ₦1 million for camels.
Alhaji Yusuf urged the public to ignore exaggerated price rumors and encouraged them to visit the market themselves.
“As you can see, a few people are asking about prices, but most end up leaving without buying,” he said.
Another dealer, Alhaji Anas Garba Abubakar, compared the current situation with previous years.
“In the past, ₦2 million could buy over twenty rams from local markets. Now, that same amount gets you only about five,” he lamented.
He blamed the spike in prices on the ban on ram imports from Niger Republic and the high cost of animal feed, which remains elevated despite a general drop in food prices.
Two prospective buyers, Abdullahi Kabir and Bashir Ibrahim Hassan, shared their frustrations after visiting the market.
“We came here to buy rams, but the prices are just too high. We have to go back and rethink our plans,” they said.
They called on the government and relevant stakeholders to intervene and prevent the situation from worsening.
Traditionally, animal markets see a rush of buyers in the days leading up to Eid ul Kabir.
This year, however, many markets across the state are witnessing an unusual drop in patronage.
Reporting by Khadijah Aliyu