On Tuesday, some Muslims in the FCT stated that the high price of ram and other foodstuffs would not stop them from celebrating Eid al-Adha.
Mr Abdulrahman Kolawole, a civil servant, told the NAN that he could not afford a ram for the yearly sacrifice, but would join with other relatives to buy a cow that would be shared amicably.
“The most important thing is sharing, giving and caring for your neighbours and people around you. It is a sacrifice that awards blessings if done from the heart.
“The thing is, my family and I are always enthusiastic about this period because it is a time to celebrate and merry together and also to be thankful for Allah’s kindness to humanity.
“So we will celebrate, whether the prices of ram and foodstuff are high or not, we will afford what we can and still merry. Allah is gracious and we are happy.”
Alhaji Yawu Mamman, a business man, said that he had already made provisions for foodstuff ahead of the celebrations for his family.
Mr Mamman said: “I just asked my wife to buy chickens so that we can cook and share among friends and relatives.
I was able to make the ram sacrifice in other years but things are a bit tough now, so we will make do with what is available.
“This is because tough times cannot stop us from performing our religious obligations.
“Insha Allah, we will share food with as many that we can reach and people that will come visiting. It is Allah’s message and we hope to deliver it”, he added.
NAN correspondents who visited some of the ram stands in Bwari and Kubwa area of the city, reports that livestock price ranged from N25,000 to N350,000, depending on their sizes.
A ram seller, Mr Amos Ayu, said that he had low patronage due to the high cost of rams while attributing the cost to the economic situation in the country.
“Before now, to transport one ram from Katsina to Abuja cost between N1, 000 to N1, 500, but now it costs N3, 500 whether small or big.
“In the past, the highest amount you can buy a very big ram is N100,000 to N150, 000 depending on the size, but now, the biggest goes for a negotiable price of N250,000 to N350,000.”
Eid-el-Kabir is a festival of ram sacrifice, an act of Ibadah (worship) to Allah as practised by Muslims globally.
The Federal Government declared Wednesday, 28 June and Thursday, 29 June 2023 as public holiday for the celebration of sallah.
