SALLAH: Ram price close to N1m, pepper jumps 200% as buyers look for alternatives

By Esther Onyegbula

As Muslims across Nigeria prepare for the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, popularly known as Sallah, rising food prices, expensive livestock and increasing transportation costs are forcing many families to scale down festivities, abandon travel plans and embrace modest celebrations.

From Lagos to Ibadan and Badagry, traders, livestock sellers and residents who spoke with Sunday Vanguard painted a grim picture of a season overshadowed by economic hardship, with many saying the soaring cost of living has drastically altered how they plan to celebrate this year’s festival.

At major markets in Lagos, the reality is already evident. The prices of staple cooking ingredients and livestock, central to Sallah celebrations, have climbed sharply in recent weeks, leaving many households struggling to cope.

A fresh tomato and pepper vendor, Ashiru in Iyana Oba Market, lamented the sudden hike in prices of basic food items.

“Tomatoes and pepper are very expensive now. A basket of tomatoes is now N80,000. It used to be N52,000 or N53,000 before. A basket of pepper is now N45,000 whereas before it was sold for N15,000 (200 percent increase). Onion is now N90,000 for a bag; before it was N56,000,” he said.

The same reality confronts traders dealing in other household staples.

Mrs Ruth Lawal, a food items trader, explained that the prices of rice and cooking oil have gone beyond the reach of many average Nigerians.

“The price of basic foods has gone up from the normal price. Before, a bag of rice, the common brands like My Food and Blessed, were sold for N52,000, but now it is N65,000.

“For groundnut oil, the price for 25 litres was N50,800 but now it is N61,200,” she said.

Livestock sellers also described a market under pressure, as the prices of cows, rams and goats continue to surge ahead of the festival.

According to Mr Abdulraheem, a cow meat seller, the cost of purchasing cattle has risen dramatically.

“This price of cow has gone up. We used to buy a big cow between N800,000 and N1 million but now it is between N1.2 million and N1.5 million.

“For ram, depending on the size, the big ones are currently sold between N700,000 and N900,000, while the medium size is sold between N400,000 and N600,000. The small ones are sold between N200,000 and N300,000,” he said.

Corroborating him, a livestock seller, Afeez Awal, who buys directly from northern Nigeria and sells at Mami Market in Ibereko along Badagry Expressway, said the increase has affected both traders and buyers.

“Small goat is now sold between N200,000 and N300,000; before it was sold for N150,000. The big one which was sold for N300,000 before is now N700,000.

“Cow is now sold between N1.2 million and N1.5 million; before it was sold between N500,000 and N700,000,” he said.

 Economic realities

 For many families, the economic realities mean difficult choices.

A farmer, Temitope Abel, said she has already abandoned plans to buy a ram for the celebration.

“With the cost of food items, I can’t buy anything again. I won’t be able to buy ram like I usually do. I will go for a carton of turkey which is a bit affordable. A carton of turkey here is N48,000.

“The price of fish also went up. For instance, the price of croaker fish which used to be N6,000 is now N8,000 at the cold room. Even Kpanla fish which used to be very cheap is now very expensive,” she lamented.

Yet amid the hardship, many residents say they are choosing gratitude, moderation and togetherness over elaborate celebrations.

For Mrs Romoke Olisa, this year’s Sallah will be intentionally simple.

“It’s definitely a challenging period for everyone with the current prices.

“We are adjusting our budget accordingly and focusing on a low-key celebration with immediate family.

“We’re partnering two to three friends or family members to buy one big cow and split the meat.

“The main thing is the blessings of the season. We move o,” she said.

Similarly, Taiwo Jimoh said despite the economic hardship, many families have no option than to celebrate with whatever is available.

“All thanks to God Almighty for sparing our lives to witness another festival. Fine, it may not be rosy, but my family and I are alive.

“It is a difficult situation in the country, especially now that we are celebrating Sallah. We have been pushing before Sallah and we are still going to manage the situation we found ourselves in but created by the government.

“We are going to celebrate the festival with whatever we have, but I believe it is going to be better. I told my children that they have to wear what they have at home, the same thing as me and their mother.

“Presently, I don’t have any alternative than to celebrate with what I have and thank God for sparing my family and I to witness the festival. A lot of things have happened.

“I want to urge my Muslim brothers and sisters to celebrate moderately with whatever they have because we still have many more festivities to celebrate.

“The bad economy doesn’t stop some people from celebrating, but if you don’t have enough, celebrate moderately with your family and enjoy with your family,” he said.

 Painful

 A young Brand and Communications Strategist based in Lagos, Abiodun Yakubu, noted that while the situation is painful, Islamic teachings encourage believers to celebrate within their means.

“It is indeed disappointing to see how weak things have become economically, and this has affected preparations for Sallah in many households. However, Islam has made it easy for worshippers by ensuring that we only engage in acts of worship and celebration within our means.

“The faith emphasizes that sacrifices and festivities should be based on what one can afford and is capable of, without undue hardship,” he said.

According to him, the focus should now shift from luxury to the spiritual essence of the celebration.

“As prices continue to rise, the alternative is to focus on simplicity, celebrating with gratitude, prayer and togetherness rather than stretching beyond our financial capacity. This way, the essence of Sallah is preserved, and worshippers can still fulfill their obligations without unnecessary burden,” he added.

Explaining how she plans to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir amid the harsh economy, a Public Health practitioner, Taoheedah Abdulkareem, said financial discipline and moderation have become necessary.

“My approach is to spend within my means and manage my expenses carefully. I don’t see the need to go beyond what I can afford just for the sake of celebration.

“If there are items or traditions I have used before for Eid, I will stick to those rather than taking on unnecessary costs. For anything new I want to buy, I will plan ahead and prioritize only what is essential, making sure it fits into my budget.

“I am also aware that prices have been going up, so I intend to be more practical in how I shop. I will stick to the sellers I usually buy from, as I already have a relationship with them, and I will negotiate where possible to get a fair price.

“Beyond that, my main strategy is to manage my expenses overall, cutting out non-essential spending so that I can still celebrate meaningfully without putting myself under financial strain. The goal is to maintain the spirit of Eid while being responsible with money,” she added.

Also explaining how many Muslim families are making adjustments in food, clothing and travel expenses, Mrs Rukiyat Omolara said: “The economic situation in the country has made many of us Muslims adjust how we celebrate Sallah. These changes revolve around food to prepare, clothing and travelling.

“For example, I might decide not to travel again if I feel I can’t meet up with the expenses that come with travelling. The cost of cooking is also expensive. Pepper is now expensive, so we will resolve to add dried pepper because of the cost of fresh pepper in the market,” she said.

For some breadwinners, conversations around sacrifice and endurance have already begun at home.

Mr Raji Razak said he has informed his family that buying new clothes may no longer be possible this year.

“Considering the preparation for the Sallah and the economic situation, I’ve already told my children and wife there should be nothing like buying new clothing this year because of the situation of things.

“If the government is able to pay our salary before the end of the month, I might be able to buy one small ram that is around N150,000 just to ensure that my children and wife celebrate with me,” he said.

He added that families must learn to adapt to the harsh economic climate.

“This is not the first time we are celebrating and we should understand that we have to endure the current hardship in the country,” he added.

Similarly, Mr Awojoodu Kazeem said rising fuel prices and transportation costs have forced him to reconsider his usual travel plans.

“I’m actually planning to go and celebrate the Sallah with my extended family as normal ritual things, but with the current situation of things, especially with the high price of fuel and other important items, I’m considering doing the Sallah on a low key with my immediate family here in Ibadan and sending the little amount I have to them in Ife to assist them.

“I use a V6 engine, so fuelling from Ibadan to Ife, plus unforeseen expenses when I get home, are something I don’t think I can afford for now,” he said.

Despite the hardship, however, many residents insist that the true spirit of Sallah remains alive, not in extravagant spending, but in sacrifice, compassion, faith and the ability to share whatever little one has with loved ones.

For many households this year, modesty may replace luxury, but hope and resilience continue to define the season.

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