As the 2023 Eid-el-Kabir festival, also known as a festival for slaughtering rams, Nigerians are grappling with financial challenges and the struggle to provide for their families.
Eid-el-Kabir, also called Eid-al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice, is the second and largest of the two major festivals celebrated in Islam. It involves the ritual sacrifice of rams and other acceptable animals as an offering to Allah.
In Nigeria, the festival is traditionally marked by feasting, revelry, and cultural gatherings. It serves as an occasion for families to come together and for communities and clubs to organize carnivals and other social events.
However, just hours before the festival begins, reports suggest that Muslims in Nigeria are facing significant difficulties in participating in this year’s festivities. The high cost of purchasing a ram, acquiring essential food items, buying new clothes and footwear for the family, is causing considerable distress, especially as prices continue to skyrocket.
Unlike previous years, the usual excitement surrounding Eid-el-Kabir is noticeably absent across Ogun State communities.
The situation is similar throughout the country, with citizens expressing sadness over the escalating inflation rate.
“In previous years, many people would have returned home from Lagos and other places to celebrate this festival, but that is not happening this year. It seems people are not willing to travel for Sallah,” remarked Iya Kabiru, a local trader.
Indeed, the customary sight of rams or cows tethered in front of houses, signifying readiness for the festival, is nowhere to be found this year.
“This year is different. Have you seen any rams since you entered this street? They are no longer available. Rams have become unaffordable for the average person. We must find an alternative,” said Alhaji Azeez Ojo in Oluwo, Abeokuta.
According to sources, Muslims who cannot afford a medium-sized ram priced at N200,000 or more are pooling their resources to purchase cows.
“Four of us contributed N100,000 each to buy that cow in the trunk of the car. We will divide it equally among ourselves. It’s a better option than spending a fortune on a ‘lamb’,” explained an elderly man at the Kara market in Rounder.
Investigations reveal that both buyers and sellers are struggling amidst the current state of the nation’s economy.
While traders lament low patronage, buyers return home empty-handed as their available funds fall short of inflated price expectations.
The rise in inflation has led to an increase in the prices of essential commodities, significantly reducing the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians.
Furthermore, citizens are still recovering from the fallout of the failed naira redesign policy under the Buhari administration, which severely affected many businesses. The recent removal of fuel subsidies and subsequent devaluation of the naira by President Bola Tinubu has further compounded the hardships faced by the masses.
“I went to the market this morning, but I couldn’t buy anything. The prices of everything I wanted to buy have increased by more than 100 percent. Pepper, tomatoes, rice, garri, palm oil, and other items have become very expensive. I returned home empty-handed,” shared Mrs. Ismail, a resident of Idiroko.
Transportation fares soar
In line with the usual practice, transporters across all motor parks have hiked their fares, exacerbating the suffering of the already burdened masses.
It was also observed that as soon as the pump price of petrol exceeded N500 following the removal of subsidies, transporters swiftly responded by increasing transportation costs.
For instance, the Abeokuta to Iperu route, previously priced at N900, was raised to N1,500. Similarly, the Owode Yewa to Abeokuta fare increased from N2,000 to N2,500. The Abuja to Jos route also rose to N4500 from it usual 2500 transport fare.
However, commuters traveling and moving along regular intercity routes today reported fare increments of over 100 percent in most cities within Nigeria.
This pervasive situation exists across all parks, forcing travelers to seek more affordable alternatives or even cancel their trips altogether.