Very Low Sales: Ram Dealers Face Bleak Sallah Season as Prices Surge and Supplies Dwindle

 

With Eid al-Adha, also known as Sallah, just days away, one would expect Nigeria's livestock markets to be buzzing with activity, traders smiling amid brisk sales, and buyers haggling over the best rams for the religious festivities. This year, however, the picture is far less celebratory.

Ram dealers across major cities in Nigeria are voicing concern over a disappointing turn of events—low customer turnout and dwindling supply have turned what should be their most profitable season into a time of uncertainty and subdued expectations.

At popular ram markets in Lagos, Kano, Abuja, and Kaduna, traders sit idly beside their herds, lamenting the unusual quiet that now characterizes what used to be a bustling marketplace. Traditionally, the days leading up to Eid al-Adha witness a buying frenzy, with families seeking healthy rams for the annual sacrifice. But for many sellers this year, the rams are waiting, and so are they.

“People are not coming like before,” said Usman Babayo, a long-time ram dealer at the Kara Market along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. “By now, this place should be packed. But as you can see, we are just here, waiting.”

The challenge, he says, is two-fold: not only is there a shortage of livestock due to various logistical and economic issues, but the few that have managed to arrive at markets are being sold at record-high prices—discouraging potential buyers.

Rampant inflation, insecurity in northern regions where rams are mostly sourced, and rising fuel prices are being blamed for the unusual situation. Transporting animals from the northern parts of the country to southern urban centers has become increasingly expensive and dangerous. Truck drivers face frequent roadblocks, banditry, and erratic fuel prices, all of which translate into higher costs for livestock.

A ram that cost ₦100,000 last year is now selling for over ₦180,000, with larger rams exceeding ₦300,000. This has pushed many average-income earners out of the market.

“I came with the intention of buying a medium-sized ram for about ₦120,000. I couldn’t find anything below ₦170,000,” said Ibrahim Musa, a civil servant in Abuja. “It’s not that we don’t want to celebrate Sallah properly, but things are just too hard right now.”

Dealers are sympathetic but feel equally helpless. Mohammed Lawal, who brought in rams from Sokoto to the Abuja Livestock Market, said he had to cut down the number of animals he transported this year by more than half due to cost and risk. Even at that, he has sold only a handful.

“This is supposed to be peak period, but my sales are slower than they’ve ever been,” he noted. “I am not sure I will break even, let alone make profit.”

The situation isn't confined to urban areas alone. Rural communities are also reporting similar trends, suggesting the problem is national in scope. Local economies have felt the pinch, with ancillary businesses such as feed sellers, transporters, and butchers also affected.

Religious and cultural expectations add another layer of pressure. For many Muslim families, the Sallah ram is not just a tradition—it is a religious obligation for those who can afford it. The high cost and short supply are now forcing many to reconsider what they can afford or even whether to participate at all.

Analysts say the current situation reflects broader economic fragility. “What we’re seeing is not just a supply issue, but a symptom of systemic problems in logistics, agriculture, and the economy,” said Dr. Aisha Gambo, an economist at Ahmadu Bello University. “Without a robust supply chain and affordable transport, livestock trade during peak seasons like this will continue to suffer.”

Government intervention has been minimal, and many traders believe more can be done to ease the burden, such as temporary transport subsidies or security reinforcements along major livestock routes.

As the countdown to Eid al-Adha continues, the mood remains uncertain. Hope flickers among traders that last-minute rushes may still salvage the season, but the optimism is cautious at best.

“We are praying,” said Usman Babayo. “Maybe things will change before Sallah. But if not, this will be one of the worst years we’ve had.”

For now, rams graze lazily in their enclosures, unaware of the tension building around them—symbols of a celebration that hangs in the balance.