As the Sallah celebration draws closer in Nigeria, ram sellers in major markets are expressing concern over low patronage, saying business has remained unusually slow compared to previous years.
At the popular Millennium City livestock market in Kaduna, many traders were seen waiting patiently beside their animals, hoping customers would eventually come to buy before the festival.
The sellers attributed the poor turnout to the current economic hardship and rising cost of living, which they said has reduced the purchasing power of many families.
Speaking with Mallam Ya’u Wada, a ram dealer, said he brought over 40 rams from the northern part of the country expecting brisk business ahead of Eid-el-Kabir, but sales have been disappointing.
“In previous years, buyers would rush to the market days before Sallah, but this year people only ask for prices and leave,” he said. “We are still hopeful that patronage will improve before the celebration.”
Another trader, Aliyu Abdullahi, explained that transportation costs and feeding expenses have increased significantly, forcing sellers to raise prices.
According to him, many customers can no longer afford big rams and now prefer smaller animals or shared purchases.
Some residents who visited the market admitted that the high prices of food and other household needs have made it difficult to budget for Sallah sacrifices this year.
“I usually buy a big ram every year, but this time I may settle for a smaller one because things are hard,” said Magaji Aliyu a civil servant.
Despite the slow sales, traders remain optimistic that last-minute buyers will flood the market as the celebration approaches.
Many of them continue to pray for better patronage so they can recover their investment and make profits before the end of the festive season.
Abubakar Hamza.
