With few hours to this year’s Eid Adha, popularly called, Eid-el Kabir, prices of animals commonly meant for slaughter are on the increase, even as they are available in the markets.
A visit to some ram markets within the Katsina State metropolis, attested to the fact, as the complaints were either price hike, occasioned by the banditry bedevilling the state, or the exchange rate of the Central African Currency, CFA.
Some also advised Muslims who do not have the means to slaughter any animal this year, as a result of the economic crunch, not to overtask themselves, but rather, plan for next year’s celebration.
Those who were seen in high spirits, who have come to purchase more than one ram, are either weighing other options of going back, or settling for at least one.
Aliyu Matazu is one among the buyers, with a budget of 150 thousand Naira, to purchase 2 rams, but is disappointed, due to the price hike, as compared to that of last year.
The one he was about to purchase was going for 150 thousand Naira.
He has resorted to considering other options.
He blames lack of money, on the fewer people buying, as almost 80 per cent of Katsina populace are civil servants, waiting on the state government for July salary which were yet to be paid, as at the time of filing this report.
For Mas’ud Gafai, one of the sellers, he blamed the exchange rate of the Naira to the Central African Currency, CFA, and the banditry bedevilling the state, as reasons for price hike.
Gafai added that, they went to Niger Republic to bring in the rams, and were faced with the exchange rate issue.
He said, as a result, the bigger rams are going for between 200 thousand Naira and above, while the smallest ones are being sold for 40 thousand.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
