Eid-El-Kabir: Nigerians Express Disappointment As Prices Of Rams, Pepper Hit The Roofs | By KAZEEM AWOJOODU
The recent market survey by Saturday INDEPENDENT has shown clearly that, compared with last year, there is a huge difference between the price of ram and that of perishables food items such as peppers and vegetables.
Some Nigerians, especially the Muslim faithfuls that were interviewed by Saturday INDEPENDENT reporter who conducted a survey in some major markets in Ibadan metropolis, the Capital City of Oyo State to assess the situation of things confirmed the huge difference between the present prices of ram and pepper compared with the last year prices of these essential commodities, most especially as the Eid-El-Kabir festival approaches.
The Eid el-Kabir festival which is synonymous with killing of ram is also referred to as the “Feast of Ram for Sacrifice”. Eid-El-Kabir is the festival annually observed by Muslim faithfuls to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to God, who had intentions of killing his only son (Prophet Ismael) for God as a sacrifice in order to fulfill his promise to God.
During a visit to the Akinyele market in Akinyele Local Government of Oyo state, Bodija Market, Academy Iwo Road Ram Market, State Government Secretariat Ram Market among others where people came to buy rams and peppers to use for Salah celebration, potential buyers were dumbfounded when they heard the new prices of these commodities.
While speaking with Saturday INDEPENDENT, a buyer at the Cattle Market, Mr Taofik Alimi expressed his dissatisfaction over the prices of ram this year amidst economic hardship.
“As at this time last year, this ram I’m pricing now is N85,000 but now I’m surprised that the price is now N150,000,” he said.
Mr Surajudeen Monsuru, a ram dealer at Bodija Market said, “The prices of rams are too expensive, compared to last year. An average ram now sold for N160,000 as against N85,000 last year.”
Surajudeen attributed the increase in the price of rams to transportation and increments in the price of feeds used in feeding the livestocks. He said, “The cost of transporting rams has doubled in the past month. We have no choice but to pass some of these costs onto the buyers,” he said.
At the Oyo State Secretariat ram market, an average ram that sold last year for N80,000, now sold at between N120,000 and N280,000.
A buyer that was engaged, Mr Sodiq Aliu, said,”I’m buying this ram to make my children and wife happy. This is too costly compared to last year price, but I just have to get it for them so they can feel okay on Sallah day. For instance, the price I bought this ram you’re seeing here with me is N220,000 and it’s the same size with the one I bought last year at the rate of N175,000.”
In Monatan Academy Iwo Road Ram Market, Mr Adeoye Sulimon said, “The ram I bought N80,000 last year is being sold at N150,000. I deposited N40,000 last week to make sure I buy the ram just to satisfy my family. You know this is an annual ritual and we have to do it so we can have ‘lada’ from Almighty God.”
Some of the Muslim faithfuls that cannot afford the price of the ram were seeing contemplating in either to join hands in buying cow instead of ram for they also believe that the meat of cow will be far more reasonable than that of ram that is so costly, saying Cow is also one of the animals that is acceptable for Eid-El-Kabir annual ritual rite.
Some of the women that spoke with Saturday INDEPENDENT narrated their ordeal in the hands of pepper sellers, as there is an increase in the prices of fresh tomatoes and peppers in the markets.
They lamented that the price of a basket of fresh tomatoes, which sold for between N50,000 and N80,000 in April, now sells for between N150,000 and N190,000.
A woman who simply identified herself as Mama Gold, a pepper seller at Bodija Market said, “I have someone supplying me directly from Kano. But let me tell you, tomatoes do not do well during the rainy season. So the price increases during this season. I also heard that tomato farm was attacked by pest which has destroyed some major tomato farms in the North and I think this is one of the major causes of the hike in price of tomatoes and it’s scarcity.”
Speaking with a buyer, Mrs Bolaji Adebisi Idayat lamented seriously about the hike in price of peppers. She said, “Chilli Pepper (Ata Rodo) is now N500 for four or five pieces but tomatoes are five pieces for N1,000. The ball pepper (Tantashe) is N200 per four pieces. We have never experienced this before, this is too much. The price is too high, and we are going to celebrate, feast our people. I really don’t know what to do, things are too expensive.”