Prices of food stuff and other necessities experience unusual increase during the festive period but the reality is that a ram (not cow) is already selling for between N100,000 and N120,000 in Lagos, ahead of Muslims’ Id-el-Kabir festivity, which is likely to be celebrated this weekend.
The annual celebration is symbolic and reminds Moslem faithful of prophet Ibrahim’s obedience to God, when he yielded to His command to offer his son, Ismail, as a sacrifice to God. God later stopped him from slaughtering the lad, and is a commandment for Muslims to perform every year, slaughtering rams in remembrance of the prophet, but only those who can afford it can slaughter one.
At the under bridge ram market, near the Nigerian Breweries plc office, Iganmu last Friday, it was a case of angst and surprise for intending buyers who must have thought it wise enough to get to the market early for a good buy before the celebration proper. But the buyers were thrown off balance, as prices of these symbolic animals have skyrocketed.
Afeez Akerele, an executive of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Oyingbo/Iganmu area, who was at the market the same time Cityfile visited, could not believe his ears when the price of the largest rams available for sale was declared.
“By this time last year, I could still buy this size for N55, 000. I don’t know what is happening this time,†Akerele complained as he walked to the next seller, a Hausa/Fulani middle-aged man, who tried exonerating the sellers from the price convolution when he heard the complains.
“As we dey buy am, na so we dey sell. Everything don go up. We dey pay high transport to bring dem from north,†Musa Yaro, one of the ram sellers explains.
At Alaba-Rago market in Okokomaiko area of the state where the animals are also paraded for sale, the price difference compared to what obtains at the Breweries market is insignificant.
A seller who identified himself as Yusuf puts the price of the largest size at Alaba-Rago to be between N85, 000 and N95,000. Yusuf says this category is for the super rich and government officials.
Moving down the ladder are those from N35,000 to N45,000 that you can still take home, but the difference in terms of sizes and body weights of the animals are very clear, making the choice clearly yours. At the Ijaiye ram market, a smaller ram, which previously sold for N20, 000, now sells for between N25, 000 and N28, 000.
For those at the lowest rungs of the ladder, Islam allows you to jointly slaughter a ram with a neighbour, however, there is no sin committed when you can’t afford one to slaughter. In other words, the event can still be marked without the symbolic slaughtering of a ram.
Unusual rise in price of rams this festive season
…Cost as high as N120, 000
Don’t jump out of your skin screaming outrageous! You can still get a ram to buy at the right price to suit your pocket or class.
Prices of food stuff and other necessities experience unusual increase during the festive period but the reality is that a ram (not cow) is already selling for between N100,000 and N120,000 in Lagos, ahead of Muslims’ Id-el-Kabir festivity, which is likely to be celebrated this weekend.
The annual celebration is symbolic and reminds Moslem faithful of prophet Ibrahim’s obedience to God, when he yielded to His command to offer his son, Ismail, as a sacrifice to God. God later stopped him from slaughtering the lad, and is a commandment for Muslims to perform every year, slaughtering rams in remembrance of the prophet, but only those who can afford it can slaughter one.
At the under bridge ram market, near the Nigerian Breweries plc office, Iganmu last Friday, it was a case of angst and surprise for intending buyers who must have thought it wise enough to get to the market early for a good buy before the celebration proper. But the buyers were thrown off balance, as prices of these symbolic animals have skyrocketed.
Afeez Akerele, an executive of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Oyingbo/Iganmu area, who was at the market the same time Cityfile visited, could not believe his ears when the price of the largest rams available for sale was declared.
“By this time last year, I could still buy this size for N55, 000. I don’t know what is happening this time,†Akerele complained as he walked to the next seller, a Hausa/Fulani middle-aged man, who tried exonerating the sellers from the price convolution when he heard the complains.
“As we dey buy am, na so we dey sell. Everything don go up. We dey pay high transport to bring dem from north,†Musa Yaro, one of the ram sellers explains.
At Alaba-Rago market in Okokomaiko area of the state where the animals are also paraded for sale, the price difference compared to what obtains at the Breweries market is insignificant.
A seller who identified himself as Yusuf puts the price of the largest size at Alaba-Rago to be between N85, 000 and N95,000. Yusuf says this category is for the super rich and government officials.
Moving down the ladder are those from N35,000 to N45,000 that you can still take home, but the difference in terms of sizes and body weights of the animals are very clear, making the choice clearly yours. At the Ijaiye ram market, a smaller ram, which previously sold for N20, 000, now sells for between N25, 000 and N28, 000.
For those at the lowest rungs of the ladder, Islam allows you to jointly slaughter a ram with a neighbour, however, there is no sin committed when you can’t afford one to slaughter. In other words, the event can still be marked without the symbolic slaughtering of a ram.
Prices of food stuff and other necessities experience unusual increase during the festive period but the reality is that a ram (not cow) is already selling for between N100,000 and N120,000 in Lagos, ahead of Muslims’ Id-el-Kabir festivity, which is likely to be celebrated this weekend.
The annual celebration is symbolic and reminds Moslem faithful of prophet Ibrahim’s obedience to God, when he yielded to His command to offer his son, Ismail, as a sacrifice to God. God later stopped him from slaughtering the lad, and is a commandment for Muslims to perform every year, slaughtering rams in remembrance of the prophet, but only those who can afford it can slaughter one.
At the under bridge ram market, near the Nigerian Breweries plc office, Iganmu last Friday, it was a case of angst and surprise for intending buyers who must have thought it wise enough to get to the market early for a good buy before the celebration proper. But the buyers were thrown off balance, as prices of these symbolic animals have skyrocketed.
Afeez Akerele, an executive of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Oyingbo/Iganmu area, who was at the market the same time Cityfile visited, could not believe his ears when the price of the largest rams available for sale was declared.
“By this time last year, I could still buy this size for N55, 000. I don’t know what is happening this time,†Akerele complained as he walked to the next seller, a Hausa/Fulani middle-aged man, who tried exonerating the sellers from the price convolution when he heard the complains.
“As we dey buy am, na so we dey sell. Everything don go up. We dey pay high transport to bring dem from north,†Musa Yaro, one of the ram sellers explains.
At Alaba-Rago market in Okokomaiko area of the state where the animals are also paraded for sale, the price difference compared to what obtains at the Breweries market is insignificant.
A seller who identified himself as Yusuf puts the price of the largest size at Alaba-Rago to be between N85, 000 and N95,000. Yusuf says this category is for the super rich and government officials.
Moving down the ladder are those from N35,000 to N45,000 that you can still take home, but the difference in terms of sizes and body weights of the animals are very clear, making the choice clearly yours. At the Ijaiye ram market, a smaller ram, which previously sold for N20, 000, now sells for between N25, 000 and N28, 000.
For those at the lowest rungs of the ladder, Islam allows you to jointly slaughter a ram with a neighbour, however, there is no sin committed when you can’t afford one to slaughter. In other words, the event can still be marked without the symbolic slaughtering of a ram.