As Muslims all over the world prepare to celebrate the Eidel Kabir next week, a crosssection of ram sellers at the popular Kara Market in Ogun State, have cried out over low patronage. But the cost of ram may be keeping buyers at bay. For instance, a sizeable ram goes for about N400,000 at the market.
Yesterday, some of them were offloading hundreds of rams from trucks which conveyed the animals from the North. The Eid-el Kabir offers Muslims the opportunity to sacrifice rams. Thousands of rams were on display for sale at the market located on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
One of the traders, who identified himself as Mohammed Abubakar, said he brought about 100 rams to the market in anticipation of good sales, but was disappointed as customers were not even coming to check his rams.
He said that last year was far better in terms of patronage. He said: “Last year, by this time, I had sold half of my rams! Even though we still have the weekend to make sales, it is, however, clear that this year, customers are not coming.”
Abubakar noted that the prices of rams shot up this year. He said: “We sell from N70,000 to N400,000, depending on the customer’s choice. Despite the cost of rearing the rams, we also have to calculate transportation costs.
This led to sharp increase in prices. “Last year, if you had N30, 000, you would buy a ram, but we cannot help the situation now.” Another trader, who gave his name as Idris, said last year, he sold his rams off, a week before the Eid-el Kabir, but this year, he had not sold a quarter of his supply.
He said: “We knew it was going to be like this because of the economic hardship. People are not even visiting our ram market.
There is low patronage. The situation in the country has put us in a real trouble. We want to sell and remain in business, but where are the customers? If we even lower the prices of rams, we will make no profits.”
However, despite the complaints of low patronage, more trucks continued to drive into the market with rams. Abdulrahman, another dealer, said he was not discouraged in supplying more rams to the market. He believed that those that would buy would definitely come.
He said: “It is a thing of celebration. As at today, there had been no sales. But I believe by the weekend, customers will flood here. Muslims cannot run away from this celebration. It is a celebration that demands rams should be killed. I’m optimistic buyers will come.”
