(A ram stands at a livestock market. Photo Credit: BBC)
As Nigerian Muslims gear up for the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebrations a festive period marked by the ritual slaughter of animals the prices of rams, food items, and other essential goods have shot up sharply across the country.
A market survey conducted in Kaduna State revealed that while rams, goats, and chickens were available in fairly good supply, their prices had climbed well beyond what many buyers anticipated.
Costs vary based on the size of the animal, with rams in markets like the Central Market going for anywhere between ₦300,000 and ₦1 million.
Even chickens, which some Muslims turn to as a more affordable alternative to rams, have not been spared from the price surge.
A three-month-old chicken now costs between ₦20,000 and ₦30,000, and a bag of rice had risen to ₦80,000 as of Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
Traders offered several reasons for the spike. Alhaji Bulama, a senior figure in the Rams Sellers Association, pointed to a shortage of animals caused largely by insecurity, which has driven many rural families who traditionally rear livestock out of their homes and away from farming and animal husbandry.
He also cited the soaring cost of animal feed as a contributing factor.
Fellow trader Mallam Musa Adamu added that high transportation costs have further driven up prices, explaining that because locals in many northern communities can no longer safely rear animals, traders are forced to source them from distant locations, with haulage costs passed on to buyers.
Despite the high prices, some buyers remain undeterred. One consumer, Dr. Musa, said he had been planning ahead and was committed to purchasing a ram regardless of the cost.
He however urged fellow Muslims to spend within their means, cautioning against borrowing money to fund celebrations and reminding them that Eid comes every year, offering another opportunity for those who cannot afford it this time around.
