Many Nigerian Muslims, who joined their counterparts in the world to celebrate the 2025 Eid al-Adha, have lamented how the high cost of living in the country affected their preparation for the religious festivity.

Those who spoke with our correspondent revealed that they were forced to make certain adjustments owing to the economic situation.

DAILY POST gathered that many struggled to cope with the hike in food prices and transportation, nationwide.

Also, the prices of various sizes of ram, which is symbolically slaughtered to mark the occasion, went up, forcing many Muslim faithful to settle for alternatives.

However, there was a noticeable influx of passengers across some motor parks in the Federal Capital Territory and its environs.

A visit to the popular Mararaba market, an outskirt of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, domiciled in Nasarawa State, revealed that a bag of pepper, called tatashe, was N200,000 as against N130,000 the previous week.

A bag of chilli pepper now costs N200,000 as against N120,000, while a basket of tomatoes cost N220,000 as against N160,000.

Speaking to DAILY POST, a pepper seller, Mary Ikechukwu, lamented that the cost of pepper has negatively affected their sales.

“The changes in the prices started on Monday, when Hausa traders started travelling back to the North.

“This situation has also rubbed off on our people as customers no longer patronized us as it used to be. I am also not happy the way things are going this year.

“Last year, it was a little better than what we are experiencing this year. Imagine that a lot of people want to celebrate Sallah without having food.

“Some people prefer to buy dried pepper because it is cheaper than the fresh ones,” she said.

At Karu market, prices of food items jumped by almost 300 per cent in some cases within the space of one year.

A trader at the market said, “A basket of tomatoes which was sold between N145,000 and N160,000 in 2024 had risen to N200,000.

DAILY POST also gathered that onions are relatively cheap perhaps, it is in its season.

But, it is still costly compared to what it was in 2024.

An onion seller, who simply gave his name as Mohammed, revealed that a 100kg basket of onions is now selling for N100,000 against N70,000 in 2024.

“Today, a bag of 50kg rice ranges between N50,000 and N65,000 depending on the product and quality,” he added.

In the same way, prices of ram, goat and cow in the Federal Capital Territory have soared.

In Abuja, ram sellers attributed the high cost of ram to insecurity and low supply from the Northwest.

Checks by DAILY POST revealed that a medium-sized cow ranged from N700,000 to as high as N1.5 million; a ram ranged from N250,000 to N700,000 and a goat from N100,000 to N150,000 depending on bargaining strength.

A ram trader, Ibrahim Abubakar, who spoke to DAILY POST, said patronage has been decent, but with an interesting twist.

“The patronage this year is not bad, but I have noticed that people are buying more cows than rams.

“I believe the reason behind this shift is that cows are more economical and offer better value for money.

“When families or even groups of friends come together, they can share a cow and still fulfill the sacrifice. That way, instead of each person buying a ram for over N500,000, they split the cost.

“The cheapest cow you can get right now is around N800,000, while the cheapest ram starts at about N550,000. Prices also vary depending on the size and weight of the animal.

“I have contacted my sources for more cows, but the market price has gone up since last week. It’s a volatile market, and prices can change quickly,” Abubakar said.

Another seller, Shehu Adamu, said he observed that people are weighing their options for this year’s Sallah, stating that they have been buying more cows.

“I was surprised to see some buyers turning to cows, and this trend has been on for weeks.

“However, many still prefer ram for Sallah because it’s about tradition and religious significance.

“The ram is the symbolic animal for the sacrifice, and that’s not something easily replaced.

“Prices have gone up this year, an average size ram now costs between N550,000 and N700,000 depending on the size and breed. But despite that, the demand remains steady.

“Some people have been buying younger rams because they are less expensive but still acceptable.

“The younger rams are sold for between N130,000 and N250,000,” Shehu said.

A buyer, Alhaji Sani Ali, who confirmed the trend, said buying a cow seems like a better option.

“We are a family of eight, and instead of buying two small rams, we joined with my brother-in-law and bought a cow.

“It cost us N950,000, but we split it. Everyone still gets to perform their sacrifice and save money.

“Traditionally, rams are the preferred animal for Eid-el-Kabir (Sallah). However, economic realities have changed things, and we must find a way to adapt,” he said.

A civil servant, Gimba Audu explained that he used to buy at least two rams to celebrate the festival with his parents and children.

Audu said the amount spent in 2024 to buy two rams is what he spent buying one this year.

“I bought the two rams for N250,000 each but this year, I got one for N470,000. Instead of buying two, I called my siblings and we contributed to buy a cow to support the ram I bought,” he said.

Also, a welder, Musa Nurudeen said he had no plan to buy a ram this year considering the cost implications.

“I cannot afford to buy a ram this year. The price of a big ram ranges from N550,000 to N800,000.

“Where will I get such money? I decided to take two of the goats I am rearing to celebrate the festival. Allah will understand.

“I wish the government had the power to control prices,” he said.

DAILY POST also gathered that eggs and chickens have also jumped as a crate of eggs is sold between N6,000 and N7,000 as against 2024 when it was sold for N4,500.

Also, vegetable oil traders said they have observed increased patronage due to the Sallah celebration.

A cooking oil trader at the Nyanya market, Mrs Ngozi Nwachukwu, said the demand for cooking oil increased because of preparations ahead of Sallah.

“The celebration usually increases the demand for groundnut oil. Consumers have been stocking up oil since last week.

“Cooking oil prices have risen, but it is cheaper than last December; a 25-litre container cost N110,000, a price that persisted until April 2025.

“A recent price adjustment, three weeks ago, sets the current rates for groundnut oil at N78,000 for 25 litres, N35,000 for 10 litres, and N18,500 for five litres.

“This is unusual; groundnut oil prices normally surge in December and then decrease by January or February, but it stayed high for a long time,” she said.

For transport, DAILY POST gathered that fares have also surged, with intercity bus operators raising prices as more people travelled to their hometowns for the festival.

At some motor parks in Nyanya, Mararaba and Masaka, all outskirts of the FCT, travelers witnessed transport fares increase, accompanied by stress.

A trader, Ibrahim Saidu, who boarded a car going to Kano with N10,000, blamed commercial drivers waiting for the festive season to exploit commuters.

A couple at Mararaba motor pack traveling to Kaduna State attributed the hike in transport fares to rising fuel price, calling on the federal government to expedite actions to reduce fuel price.

According to the couple, a reasonable reduction of fuel price would drastically reduce the transport charges, even at the festive celebration.

“The price of petrol is still high. This also contributes to increased transportation costs,” the couple said.

DAILY POST