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Sallah: Muslim Faithful Lament High Cost Of Rams

Published

3 years ago

July 2, 2022

Sallah Ram

As the Eid-el-Kabir festival inches closer, Muslim faithful are grumbling over the high cost of rams.

Even though many of those who are used to slaughtering animals to commemorate the season are still hopeful of buying the sacrificial animal, some of them said their poor economic status amid rising inflation are threatening to mar this year’s celebration.

Daily Trust Saturday reports that Eid-el-Kabir or Eid-el-Adha is celebrated annually by Muslims all over the world through the slaughtering of animals to honour Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his beloved son, Ishmael, as commanded by Allah. This year’s celebration is expected to hold on Saturday, July 9.

Sheep, goat, cow or camel are also allowed to be used for the sacrifice even though many people prefer to use ram because of the enormous reward it attracts from Allah.

Our reporters across the states observed that the prices of rams have shot up to between 70 and 100 per cent in most parts of the country.

For instance, the price of a medium-sized ram, which cost N30,000 in 2019 and 2020, is now going for N50,000, while the large-size ram of N250,000 has gone up to N400, 000 within the same periods.

In Kaduna State, traders have taken over major animal markets as well as neighbourhood spots to display various rams in shapes and sizes, even though they claim there are few buyers, barely one week to this year’s festival.

At the popular Zango animal market in Tudun Wada, Kaduna metropolis, one of the ram sellers known as Malam Sunusi Usman said the animals were available but buyers were not forthcoming. He added that the prices ranged between N50,000 for medium sizes and N400,000 for very large rams.

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“Honestly, if you want a good ram for Eid this year you should have from N50,000 to N60,000. These are medium-sized and good rams, but if you need big rams, then you need from N100,000 to N400,000,” he said.

He attributed the cost of the rams to transportation, especially diesel, which is used to power trucks that transport the animals to the market.

At a Kurmin Mashi neighbourhood ram spot, Ibrahim Aliyu said several customers had been visiting to price the rams but only few bought.

“We understand that it is a difficult year and many people are accusing us of hiking the prices of rams, but they have to understand that it is not our fault. Is there anything that has not gone up in Nigeria today? Even those who rear the animals at home will tell you that the price of feeding them is high, so people should bear with us,” he said.

Hajiya Halima Sani, a resident of Kaduna, said that having visited several roadside ram vendors, she discovered that the least prices were between N60,000 and N75,000.

Another resident, Usman Hamisu, who bought two rams at N200,000, said one of them cost N80,000 and the other N120,000.

On his part, Malam Aliyu Suleiman from Zaria said he may not be able to slaughter ram this year due to economic hardship.

“Things are very expensive this year. As at now, all I am thinking of is how to feed my family on Eid day; if I get some chickens to buy, that will be okay for me,” he said.

In Borno State, ram sellers in Maiduguri decried lack of patronage and poor sales amidst the high cost of the rams during the Sallah holidays.

The relative peace witnessed recently in Borno State and the state government’s reopening of the Maiduguri-Gamboru-Ngala road has prompted dozens of ram dealers and sellers to travel to neighbouring countries like Chad and Cameroon to buy Sallah rams to sell in Maiduguri.

Our correspondent who visited three different ram markets within Maiduguri observed a huge number of rams, but the traders were kept in suspense and fear due to poor sales. Different ram selling points have also sprung up in various locations within the metropolis.

A popular ram seller at the Kasuwan Shanu market, Babagana Musa, lamented lack of patronage due to the hike in prices, saying, “A good ram which sold at N100, 000 last year is now N170,000. A big ram that cost between N100, 000 and N150, 000 last year is sold between N250,000 and N300, 000 this year. This is partly due to the rapid increase of feed.”

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Another seller at the Bypass ram market, Usman Lawan, also decried poor patronage as a result of the high cost of the animals. He attributed this to the rising inflation and poor economic situation of people in the state.

A buyer, Bakari Mohammed, lamented that he could not buy a medium-sized ram. He said, “I came here to buy a medium-sized ram to celebrate Sallah but the price has skyrocketed beyond my limit. The one I brought at N50,000 last year is now almost N100,000. But I will exercise patience and see if the prices would reduce towards the eve of the festivity.”

The situation is not different at the markets visited by Daily Trust Saturday in Kano as residents were disenchanted over the rising prices of rams. Buyers lamented that it had become extremely difficult to procure rams for Sallah celebration.

Tasi’u Musa, a father of four, said he could not afford any animal for the celebration as he was still struggling to feed his family. He said he had decided to join other less privileged neighbours to buy a cow or camel and share, which he also said were beyond the reach of the poor.

However, Shu’aibu Gambo, who bought two big rams at the popular Yan Awaki market in the Unguwa Uku area, said it was possible because he started saving for the past year.

The public relations officer of Yan’Awaki Animals Market, Umar Ado Kwari, said there’s no type and size of animal one would not find in the market.

“People are buying despite the high cost because there are affordable ones that meet the needs of everybody,” he said.

In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), our reporter observed a lull in trading activities around livestock major markets, including Dei Dei and Madalla.

A ram trader, Yau Ahmed, said the low supply and patronage were different from the situation last year when animals took over spaces for rams in the markets.

Some of the traders attributed the situation to the spate of insecurity in the North West, which has led to the displacement of many farmers and herdsmen in various communities.

He also attributed the situation to the high cost of transportation, resulting from the current price of diesel, which has doubled, compared to what obtained last year. He said the situation led many livestock traders to stay off the business, while others made adjustments.

A ram buyer, Kamaruddeen Adelaja, said he was shocked by the upward change in the prices of rams, adding, “I intended to buy only one but I have to settle for a smaller size from what I initially wanted.”

Iwobi Ifeanyi, a Christian who was seen at Kubwa makeshift ram market, said she intended to buy up to 10 rams and distribute to some friends and associates as she did every year, but lamented, “I am shocked by the turn of events; the prices are very high, even when they appear to be small. I have spent three hours but yet to decide what to do,” she said.

Muslim faithful in Lagos, Edo, Imo and other parts of southern Nigeria, are also lamenting the high cost of rams, which they said was beyond the reach of the people.

Our correspondent who visited Eayen Cattle Market in Edo State observed that an average sized ram cost between N80,000 and N200,000 while a big sized ram cost between N250,000 and N400,000.

It was the same thing at Obinze cattle market, Imo State, where our correspondent observed that a middle-sized ram goes for N180,000, while the bigger ones are sold between N250,000 and N300,000.

The price is not different in Lagos and other states as ram sellers bemoaned low patronage despite the risk involved in getting them.

The chairman of Eayen cattle market, Malam Aliko Haruna, told Daily Trust Saturday that he had not been able to make sales since he returned to Benin with his consignment.

“For now, there are no sales; people are not coming. But I believe that when it is few days to Sallah they will patronise us because many people don’t have a place to keep ram, so they would wait till a day or two to Sallah.

“We have rams as high as N600,000. We also have the ones for N400,000, N250,000 and N200,000.

“However, an average sized ram now is from N80,000 and above. If you get a ram of N50,000 it would be a very small one,” he said.

He attributed the development to the high cost of living in the country.

The only buyer Daily Trust Saturday met at the market, Mr Abdulaziz Isah, lamented that he budgeted N70,000 for a ram but had gone round the market but couldn’t get one to buy.

“I have moved round the market but my money can’t afford one. I will have to go back home in search of more money,” he said.

One of the traders on rams and cattle in Oke Afa in Isolo, Lagos State, Mr Abiola Hafeez, said he could not travel to the North to purchase rams due to insecurity; he rather went to Saki in Oyo State to buy.

He said some of his colleagues who travelled to Zamfara barely escaped alive when bandits attacked the town they travelled to.

“Only the brave can travel now to purchase animals, not just anybody,” he added.

Mr Kazeem Temitope, who said he slaughtered ram every year, insisted that he would fulfil the religious injunction this year, regardless of the prices of rams.

He said, “Salah is something many people plan ahead for. I know some who would buy two or three rams every year, but now, they are saying they will only buy one due to the hike in prices. Another person who kills cows has reduced the number he would purchase this year. We all know it is expensive but we have to buy, no matter what.”

Mr Luqman Obanikoro said that as a result of the high cost of rams, he would rather get a smaller one instead of not buying at all.

Related Topics:Featured Muslim Faithful Rams Sallah

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NLC insists on withdrawal of Tax Reform Bills

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January 1, 2025

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NLC insists on withdrawal of Tax Reform Bills

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday insisted on the withdrawal of the Tax Reform Bills forwarded by President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly for passage to enable all key national stakeholders to be part of the process.

Recall that the bills had drawn sharp criticisms from some parts of the country, especially the north, which saw them as anti-growth in the region.

It also implored the government at all levels to prioritise the welfare and well-being of the citizens in 2025.

In its New Year message to Nigerians, especially workers, the President of NLC, Mr Joe Ajaero, equally said organised labour would step up its battle for an upward wage review for workers to mitigate the high costs of living.

The message, titled “In 2025, hope is in our collective resolve,’’ read: “As we step into the year 2025, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, extends warm New Year greetings to every worker and citizen across our great nation.

‘’The challenges of survival we have faced as a people must not hold us down. Instead, let us find inner strength to build a collective resolve to drive Nigeria out of the morass of underdevelopment that has held it captive for far too long.

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“No external power will deliver us from the scourge of economic hardship and stagnation. It is only through our collective effort and determination that we can propel our nation forward.

“We must build inner strength to find this collective resolve across the length and breadth of our great nation. This is our civic responsibility—one we must embrace with unwavering determination.
“We call on the government at all levels to ensure that governance translates into real benefits for the people. The welfare of the citizens remains the primary justification for the existence of any government.

“Access to food and nutrition, better healthcare, quality housing, education, transportation and greater security of lives and properties, including the right to participate in decisions on how they are ruled, are the key expectations of the people and workers.

“Policies must, therefore, reflect transparency, honesty, and inclusivity, devoid of chicanery, nepotism, and strong-arm tactics.

“To create a thriving, democratic nation, we need a system built on the tenets of social dialogue, allowing critical stakeholders to participate actively in nation-building. Such inclusiveness will foster deeper ownership of government policies, ensuring stability and sustainability.

“It is on this premise that we once again call on the federal government to withdraw its present tax bills before the National Assembly so that all key national stakeholders will be part of the process.
‘’As we embark on a national dialogue in Ibadan in January, 2025, we want to join hands in co-creating a new national tax law that would enjoy wider acceptance and fulfill its purpose of propelling national development which we believe is the main objective of government.

“As we move into 2025, we urge the federal government to prioritize industrial peace by taking social dialogue seriously, pursuing pro-human-progress policies, and respecting agreements with trade unions.

NLC insists on withdrawal of Tax Reform Bills

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Wike: Demolition of illegal buildings, shanties in FCT to continue

Published

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January 1, 2025

Trends Admin

Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike

Wike: Demolition of illegal buildings, shanties in FCT to continue

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike has vowed that he will continue his demolition of shanties, illegal buildings and enforcement of payment of ground rent in the territory in the new year without bothering about what anybody will say.

Speaking after he inspected the ongoing construction Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX), Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal and Saburi – Dei Dei road, in Abuja on Tuesday, Wike said he will not be distracted by the controversies that have trailed his ongoing demolition of structures in the FCT.

“Nothing distracts me. I am very focused,” Wike replied when asked by journalists whether the outcries over ongoing demolition and enforcement of ground rent may cause a huge distraction in 2025.

“Even if people are complaining, it is part of governance. You don’t expect that you will superintend over the affairs of people and then you satisfy everybody.

“People must complain, but I can tell you such complaints cannot distract us. I am very focused, and since it is part of our job, we will continue to do what is necessary.

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“Forget about what people say about demolition, demolition must go ahead. We demolish shanties, we demolish illegal buildings. It doesn’t matter what anybody will say.

“At the end of the day, they will still come back to say, ‘you did a good job.’

“So, don’t bother about what people say, be focused and at the end of the day, you will achieve results for a greater number of people, not for a few individuals,” Wike added.

The Minister however said the FCT Administration will do more for the residents of the capital city in 2025.

According to him, things will get better, God willing, for residents of FCT in the coming year.

“All we still require is the support of residents; of business owners, so that we can achieve more than what we have achieved in 2024.

“So, I pray that God Almighty will continue to protect us and give us better security as we experienced in 2024.

“Everybody can see, even within this festive period, security is quite intact, and we believe in 2025, we will get a better Abuja,” he said.

Wike: Demolition of illegal buildings, shanties in FCT to continue

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Police identify woman set on fire in deadly New York City attack

Published

44 minutes ago

January 1, 2025

Trends Admin

It took authorities more than a week to identify the victim of the 22 December incident

Police identify woman set on fire in deadly New York City attack

Police in New York City have named a woman who was set on fire and burned to death last week on a subway train in Brooklyn.

Debrina Kawam, 57, of New Jersey, has been identified as the victim of the seemingly random 22 December attack that burned her body beyond recognition.

Sebastian Zapeta, 33, is accused of starting the blaze with a lighter while Ms Kawam was asleep. He allegedly fanned the flames with a shirt and then watched the fire grow from a bench outside the subway car.

Last week, a grand jury indicted Mr Zapeta, who claims to have no memory of the incident, on four counts of murder and one count of arson.

Julie Bolcer, a spokesperson for New York City’s Office of Chief Medical Examiner, said the death was ruled a homicide and caused by “thermal and inhalational injuries”. She made the identification public on Tuesday.

“The identity was confirmed by the medical examiner yesterday through fingerprint analysis, following a multi-agency effort with our partners in law enforcement,” she said.

It took authorities more than a week to identify Ms Kawam’s body.

At a press conference on Tuesday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said that Ms Kawam had recently spent time at a city homeless shelter.

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“It really reinforces what I’ve been saying, people should not be living on our subway system, they should be in a place of care. And no matter where she lived, that should not have happened,” he said.

Eric Gonzalez, the Brooklyn district attorney, said at a press conference early in the investigation that authorities had worked to collect DNA evidence and fingerprints from Ms Kawam’s remains.

“It’s a priority for me, for my office, for the police department to identify this woman, so we can notify her family,” Mr Gonzalez said.

False and unverified information about her, including a fake AI-generated picture, had circulated online in the aftermath of the attack.

There was also an outpouring of support, including a vigil held for the then-unidentified victim last week.

Police say that Ms Kawam was motionless, apparently asleep, on a stationary subway train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station in Brooklyn early on 22 December when Mr Zapeta allegedly approached her with a lighter.

The pair never interacted, and police believe they did not know each other.

Jessica Tisch, New York’s police commissioner, said that the smell of smoke drew police officers and Metropolitan Transit Authority personnel to the fire and they extinguished the flames.

“Unbeknownst to the officers who responded, the suspect had stayed on the scene and was seated on a bench on the platform just outside the train car,” Ms Tisch said.

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Authorities declared Ms Kawam dead at the scene.

Ms Tisch described the incident as “one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being”.

In a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, prosecutor Ari Rottenberg said Mr Zapeta told investigators that he had been drinking and did not remember the incident, but did identify himself in photos and surveillance video showing the fire being lit.

The suspect, who is originally from Guatemala, was deported from the US in 2018 and later re-entered the country illegally, immigration authorities said.

He is due back in court on 7 January, prosecutors said.

Despite a decline in crime rates on New York City’s subway, the incident is one of a string of attacks that has raised concerns for riders on America’s largest mass transit system.

The subway safety issue arose again on Tuesday afternoon when someone was pushed on to the tracks in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighbourhood in front of an oncoming subway, according to New York City police.

The unidentified male victim was admitted to hospital with a head injury, authorities said. Police later detained a suspect, according to local media.