This year's Eid-el Kabir celebration in Kano may not look anything like those celebrated in recent years, especially for low-income earners in the State.
This is because of the surge in the price of livestock used for sacrifice during the annual festival.
One of the sellers at the Kofar Na’isa Livestock Market said the price hike was triggered by “insecurity in the country.”
Shehun Nana Kofar Na’isa said “farmers-herders clashes which led to the death of the animals” are responsible for limited livestock, their soaring prices, and the increase in feed prices.
Eid el-Kabir, also known as Eid el-Adha, or the “Festival of Sacrifice” is a significant holiday celebrated by Muslims to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s (Abraham) devotion to God.
It is observed on the 10th day of Dhul Hajj (the 12th month of the Islamic calendar).
One of the central rituals on Eid el-Adha is the sacrifice of a ram, sheep, goat, or cow.
At least, one-third of the meat from the livestock should go to the poor or vulnerable people.
Today, the price of livestock in Kano has doubled, compared to last year's Eid.
At the popular roadside livestock markets, a well-bred bull is sold for N1.6 million to N2.1 million, while a camel sells for N1.5 million to N1.7 million.
In 2023, the prices ranged from N800,000 to N1 million.
Kofar Na’isa said the hike has led to low patronage, although he manages to sell a reasonable number of his livestock in the evenings.
The price of a big ram goes from N400,000 to N900,000 against the N140,000 to N190,000 it was sold last year.
Hamisu Shu’ibu who sells rams in the market disclosed that he sells 10 livestock daily, a drop from last year’s sales numbers.
Umar Hassan, a Kano resident bought a medium-size cow at a discount rate of N300,000 from his younger brother as he could not afford the bigger one.
He was lucky to buy at the price, he said.
