Eld el-kabir: Kano residents decry hike in livestock prices

Some residents of Kano metropolis have decried hike in prices of rams and other livestock as Muslim faithful prepare for the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who visited some markets in the metropolis, observed that there were many animals for sale but buyers were nowhere.

At the Kofar Na’isa livestock market, a camel is sold for between N900, 000 and N1.7 million while a ram is sold for between N450, 000 and N810, 000.

Malam Balarabe Abdulkadir, a livestock dealer attributed the low turnout of buyers to the current economic hardship in the country.

“Residents are nowhere to be found and I haven’t sold anything yet. The livestock are too expensive and buyers are scarce,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammad Ishayaku, a resident of Charanchi quarters, said that the high cost of livestock will prevent many residents from celebrating the sallah this year.

” I can’t afford N400,000 for a ram, so I’ll have to contribute money with my neighbours to buy one,”he said.

Malam Bala Sani, another resident who visited the market, said that the prices were not affordable.

“The hike in livestock prices is unbearable. Honestly, I can’t afford it. A medium-sized ram is selling for N340, 000,” he said.

Malam Abubakar Hamisu, leader of the Goron Dutse livestock market, acknowledged the low patronage but remained hopeful sales will increase in the coming days.

In spite of the abundance of livestock in the markets, sales have declined due to the high prices, causing concern among the dealers.

Malam Balarabe Abdulkadir, another dealer in livestock said that the low turnout of buyers might be due to economic hardship.

Alhaji Mohammad Yakubu of Hotoro quarters, expressed fears that high prices of livestock would prevent residents from observing the sacrifice this year.

Malam Sunusi Ahmed, who visited the market to purchase a ram for the Sallah, said the hike in prices was unbearable and he cannot afford it.

He said that a medium sized ram goes for N340, 000.

NAN reports that in spite of the abundance of livestock in the markets, patronage has been very poor due to the high prices, causing concern among livestock dealers. (NAN)