Prices of rams on Thursday increased in some markets in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at Kuje, Gwagwalada and Abaji markets, prices of rams has increased in spite of low patronage from buyers.
At Abaji ram market, a big ram sells for between N100,000 and N120,000 depending on their sizes.
A ram trader in Abaji market, Mr. Haruna Bala, told NAN that the price hike was due to the recent increase in the cost of transportation and cost of sustaining the rams before sales.
“Prices of commodities in various markets have increased and the cost of transportation of goods is not in the interest of traders.
“Transportation fare of a full truckload of rams from Sokoto to Abuja has doubled as against what we normally pay in previous years.
“After transporting the rams, we normally invite veterinary doctors to check them because some fall sick due to the long journey,” Bala said.
Similarly, at Gwagwalada market, a big ram went for N150,000 and N180,000 respectively while the least ram was being sold at N80,000.
A businessman, Mr. Mohammed Sule, who came to buy a ram, described the price hike as worrisome and not in the interest of the ordinary citizens.
“With the economic situation we are facing in the country, some families will find it very difficult to buy ram to celebrate the Sallah.
“It has become necessary for me to buy one in spite of the hardship because it is a tradition observed once in a year,” Sule said.
The Chairman, Kuje Market Traders Union, Mr. Yunusa Isa, described the economic situation as worrisome and advised traders to avoid the artificial price hike.
Isa said that some prices were increased artificially by traders who wanted to extort the masses.
Comments
Post a Comment