As Muslims across Nigeria prepare to mark Eid al-Adha on Friday, June 6, 2025, residents of Lagos and other parts of the Southwest are grappling with two major challenges: skyrocketing ram prices and heavy traffic gridlock along major roads, particularly the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Merit Newspaper reports on Thursday 5 June that in markets across Lagos, including Kara, Iyana Ipaja, and Badagry, the price of rams has risen steeply. A medium-sized ram now costs between ₦250,000 and ₦400,000, while larger rams are being sold for as high as ₦1.5 million. Sellers attribute the spike in prices to rising transportation costs, insecurity in the North, and general inflation.
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“This year is tougher than ever,” said Adamu Abdullahi, a ram dealer at Kara Market. “We are struggling with high transport fares and low customer turnout. Many people are just pricing; they can’t afford the rams.”
The removal of fuel subsidies has further compounded the issue, with transportation costs for trailers bringing livestock from the North to Lagos doubling. According to some dealers, a trailer that cost ₦800,000 to move in 2023 now costs nearly ₦1.7 million.
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Meanwhile, thousands of Lagos residents attempting to travel to other parts of the Southwest to celebrate the festival with family have found themselves trapped in severe traffic congestion. The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, especially around the Kara Market axis, has been nearly impassable in recent days. Trucks unloading livestock and vehicles parked by customers have reduced the flow of traffic to a crawl, causing gridlock that stretches for hours.
“We left Lagos by 4 a.m. and got to Mowe around 11 a.m.,” said Amina Muhammad, a commuter travelling to Abeokuta. “This kind of suffering on the eve of a religious celebration is very disheartening.”
Despite the economic pressures, many Muslims remain determined to observe the religious rite of sacrifice. However, several families say they may resort to sharing smaller animals or skipping the ritual altogether.
“The price of rams is out of reach,” said Musa Raji, a civil servant. “I will join my brother to buy a goat instead. God knows our intention.”
With rising inflation and a weakened naira, this year’s Eid al-Adha highlights the deepening hardship faced by Nigerians trying to maintain religious and cultural traditions in difficult times.
Photo and Video Credit: Olakunle Agboola Isaac (Kayfree)
