As Muslims across Nigeria prepare for the Eid-el-Kabir festivities, livestock markets in Abuja are reeling from a steep surge in prices, with rams now selling for more than double their cost last year. Traders blame the sharp spike on insecurity and dwindling cross-border supply, especially from neighbouring countries like Niger Republic.
A visit to key livestock hubs in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including the bustling Zuba market, revealed a grim contrast: while prices of staple food items like rice, beans, onions, and tomatoes have eased slightly in recent weeks, the cost of rams and other sacrificial animals has soared.
“We used to bring in large numbers of animals from Niger Republic and other border countries.
“But this year, we’re relying mostly on local livestock farmers. The numbers aren’t enough. Many traders have even abandoned the business because it’s no longer profitable”, said Bawa Aliyu, a long-time livestock trader in Zuba.
According to Maikudi, a medium-sized ram that went for around N200,000 last year now sells for as much as N400,000. Small rams range from N150,000 to N190,000, medium-sized rams are priced between N200,000 and N250,000, while larger ones are fetching up to N1 million.
Roadside traders along the Nyanya-Abuja Expressway echoed similar concerns. Abdullahi, a seller who has seen years of Sallah trade cycles, said rams now cost between N200,000 and N700,000.
“If you’re looking for a decent ram at N100,000, maybe try again after Sallah.
“Business has been slow. I’ve sold fewer than 10 animals in the past week”, he noted. The sharp rise in prices is already affecting buyers.
Wale Oke, who normally purchases livestock in Abuja for his annual trip to Oyo State, said this year’s price hike has forced him to scale back.
“Last year, I spent N200,000 on three animals, including two goats. This year, that same amount can hardly buy one good ram, not to mention the cost of transporting it to Ibadan,” he lamented.
Ironically, the spike in livestock prices is occurring at a time when food prices have slightly moderated. During Ramadan, visits to markets in Wuse, Garki, and Utako indicated modest relief for residents as food prices dipped, a trend not replicated in the livestock sector.
Analysts and agricultural experts say the livestock price crisis is part of a larger problem tied to insecurity and disrupted supply chains.
Bosun Alebiosu, a research fellow at the French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA), said Nigeria’s worsening security situation is driving up prices.
“We underestimate how critical security is to economic stability.
“Farmer-herder clashes, banditry, and insurgency in key food-producing regions have disrupted both agriculture and livestock supply. The government needs to prioritise security in these zones.”
Dr. Abimbola Adegoke, an agricultural extension specialist at the University of Abuja, added that Nigeria’s livestock system, largely pastoral and infrastructure-deficient, is particularly vulnerable to disruptions.
“Climate change, insecurity, and intercommunal conflicts have severely reduced livestock numbers and their movement to markets in the South. Reduced supply naturally translates to higher prices,” she explained.
With Eid fast approaching and hopes for a price drop fading, both traders and buyers are bracing for a financially challenging celebration.
The federal government declared Friday, June 6, and Monday, June 9, 2025, as public holidays to mark the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
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