Nigerian Muslims joined their counterparts worldwide to celebrate the 2025 Eid al-Adha festival, but many have had to make significant adjustments due to the harsh economic realities facing the country.

Investigations by BenriNews revealed that the soaring costs of essential items, particularly sacrificial animals, have forced many faithful to adopt alternative approaches to the celebration.

Sacrificial Animals at Unprecedented Prices

In Abuja, ram sellers attributed the high costs to insecurity and reduced supply from the Northwest. A medium-sized cow now ranges from N700,000 to as high as N1.5 million, while rams are priced between N250,000 and N700,000. Goats, a more affordable alternative, sell for between N100,000 and N150,000.

Ibrahim Abubakar, a ram trader, noted an interesting shift in consumer behavior: "The patronage this year is not bad, but I have noticed that people are buying more cows than rams. I believe the reason behind this shift is that cows are more economical and offer better value for money."

He explained that families or groups of friends are pooling resources to purchase cows instead of individual rams. "The cheapest cow you can get right now is around N800,000, while the cheapest ram starts at about N550,000," he added.

Another seller, Shehu Adamu, confirmed this trend but noted that many still prefer rams due to their traditional and religious significance. "Some people have been buying younger rams because they are less expensive but still acceptable. The younger rams are sold for between N130,000 and N250,000," Shehu said.

Consumers Adapt to Economic Realities

Alhaji Sani Ali, a buyer, explained his family's decision to share a cow: "We are a family of eight, and instead of buying two small rams, we joined with my brother-in-law and bought a cow. It cost us N950,000, but we split it. Everyone still gets to perform their sacrifice and save money."

Gimba Audu, a civil servant, lamented that the amount he spent on two rams last year only bought him one this year. "I bought two rams for N250,000 each in 2024, but this year, I got one for N470,000. Instead of buying two, I called my siblings and we contributed to buy a cow to support the ram I bought," he said.

For Musa Nurudeen, a welder, buying a ram was completely out of reach. "I cannot afford to buy a ram this year. The price of a big ram ranges from N550,000 to N800,000. Where will I get such money? I decided to take two of the goats I am rearing to celebrate the festival. Allah will understand," he said.

Food Prices Skyrocket

The situation extends beyond sacrificial animals. At the popular Mararaba market on the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory, a bag of pepper (tatashe) now costs N200,000, up from N130,000 just a week earlier. A bag of chili pepper has increased to N200,000 from N120,000, while a basket of tomatoes now sells for N220,000 compared to N160,000 previously.

Mary Ikechukwu, a pepper seller, told BenriNews that the price increases have severely affected their sales. "The changes in the prices started on Monday when Hausa traders started travelling back to the North. This situation has also rubbed off on our people as customers no longer patronize us as they used to," she said.

At Karu market, food prices have jumped by almost 300 percent in some cases within the space of one year. A trader revealed that a basket of tomatoes which sold for between N145,000 and N160,000 in 2024 had risen to N200,000.

Mohammed, an onion seller, noted that a 100kg basket of onions now sells for N100,000 against N70,000 in 2024, while a 50kg bag of rice ranges between N50,000 and N65,000 depending on the product and quality.

Transport Fares Surge

Transportation costs have also increased significantly as people travel to their hometowns for the festival. At motor parks in Nyanya, Mararaba, and Masaka, travelers faced higher fares and considerable stress.

Ibrahim Saidu, a trader who paid N10,000 for a trip to Kano, blamed commercial drivers for exploiting the festive season. Meanwhile, a couple at Mararaba motor park traveling to Kaduna State attributed the fare increases to rising fuel prices and called on the federal government to take action.

"The price of petrol is still high. This also contributes to increased transportation costs," the couple said.

Despite these challenges, Nigerian Muslims are finding ways to celebrate the important religious festival, demonstrating resilience in the face of economic hardship.

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