Posted by Chinenye on Fri 22nd May, 2026 - tori.ng
As Eid-el-Kabir approaches, residents in Ibadan are feeling the pressure of rising ram prices across major markets, with both buyers and sellers expressing concern over low patronage and reduced purchasing power.
(Ram Prices Soar. Nation News)
Eid-el-Kabir is just around the corner but the skyrocketing cost of rams is taking the joy out of preparations for many Muslims in Ibadan
Buyers and sellers alike are feeling the pinch, with both sides describing the situation as deeply worrying. While buyers are struggling with weak purchasing power, sellers are complaining of unusually low patronage despite the festive season being so close.
Here is how bad the ram prices have gotten in major Ibadan markets including Akinyele, Aleshinloye, Oranyan, Bodija and Elekuro:
Small rams: ₦200,000 – ₦250,000 (was ₦70,000 – ₦80,000 in 2025), Medium rams: ₦300,000 – ₦400,000, Large rams: ₦500,000 – ₦900,000
One seller, Malam Salisu Abass, blamed the steep prices on the rising cost of fuel, which has driven up transportation costs from the north dramatically.
He revealed that a trailer load of rams from Borno to Oyo State now costs between ₦1.8 million and ₦2 million, compared to the ₦600,000 – ₦700,000 it used to cost.
One anonymous buyer captured the mood perfectly, saying many people buying rams are doing so under financial strain just to keep their aged parents or children happy while still owing school fees and other bills.
Another buyer, AbdulKarim Oyedele, arrived at the market with ₦100,000 only to discover it wasn't nearly enough to buy even one ram.
An Islamic scholar, Alhaji Afeez Adegoke, has urged Muslims to begin rearing sheep, goats and cows locally to reduce dependence on the north and curb the annual Sallah price surge.
Meanwhile, other food prices are also telling their own story:
Bag of rice: ₦67,000 (up from ₦54,000 in April), Bag of tomatoes: ₦35,000 – ₦40,000 (down from ₦80,000), Crate of tomatoes: ₦25,000 (down from ₦40,000), Bag of big onions: ₦50,000, Atarodo: ₦170,000
The mixed price movements show that while some food items have eased slightly, the overall economic pressure on Nigerian households remains very real especially with Sallah celebrations just days away.