As Nigerian Muslims join their counterparts across the globe in celebrating Eid-el-Kabir today, Friday, June 6, 2025, the traditional spectacle of ram sacrifices is fading fast. In its place, chickens, shared cows, and solemn prayers have taken over—a stark reminder of the deepening economic despair under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Across major livestock markets in the country, from Abuja to Ibadan and Kano to Ilorin, the once-bustling ram stalls now echo with silence and frustration. A team of reporters who visited several markets observed an overwhelming sense of gloom as buyers turned away in shock at the new price tags, while traders stood idle, struggling to stay hopeful.
At Mandate Market on Thursday, where rams were once hot commodities, hundreds of animals were tethered under the scorching sun with barely any attention from buyers. The atmosphere was subdued, as if mourning the disappearance of a cherished tradition.
“This time last year, we were selling nonstop,” lamented Samad Babatunde, a long-time livestock trader. “Now, people just walk in, ask for the price, shake their heads, and leave.”
According to Babatunde, a small ram that sold for N45,000 in 2024 now goes for between N60,000 and N80,000. Bigger ones? N150,000 and above. “How many average Nigerians can afford that?” he asked rhetorically.
Another trader, Musa, pointed fingers at the worsening insecurity in northern Nigeria, from where most livestock are transported. “This business has fed me for over a decade, but it’s crumbling now,” he said. “Bandits have taken over many grazing areas. Our suppliers face danger daily. Transport costs have doubled due to fear of attacks and terrible roads. We don’t inflate prices—we sell what we buy, and we need to survive too.”
Indeed, Musa revealed that local rams, once considered a last resort, are now more expensive than their northern counterparts due to scarcity.
For many residents, celebrating Eid-el-Kabir this year means improvising and adjusting expectations. A civil servant, Mr. Taiwo, told reporters: “I used to slaughter three rams. This year, I had to team up with my brothers to buy just one cow. It’s all we could afford.”
In some households, rams are completely off the menu. Chickens—once considered too modest for the Eid feast—have become the new normal.
“Even chicken is costly now,” said a poultry seller at Mandate Market. “A big live chicken goes for between N18,000 and N20,000, but compared to rams, it’s manageable. We’ve sold more chickens this Sallah than ever before. Some families are buying four or five to share among themselves.”
Residents and traders alike continue to express dismay over the spiraling inflation, persistent insecurity, and crumbling economic structure. Under President Tinubu’s watch, purchasing power has plummeted, and what was once a vibrant, sacred tradition of animal sacrifice is now a luxury only a few can afford.
What should be a joyous celebration of faith and sacrifice has instead become a symbol of struggle and survival—Sallah without rams.
PIONEER NEWS 