Ahead of the Eid-el kabir celebration tomorrow, some cattle dealers in Port Harcourt who have stocked domestic animals such as goats, rams and cows for sale ahead of Sallah, are complaining of low patronage.
Some of them at the Mile three livestock market who spoke to correspondent RACHEAL RAMSON today in Port Harcourt lamented that since morning no sale of ram due to the economic situation of the country.
The ram dealers however are optimistic that before the end of today sales will be made.
They also said that the prices of the animals have increased by an average of 40 to 80 per cent compared with what was obtained last year. adding that the same size of ram, which now sells for N100,000, was sold for about N70,000 last year.
Musa Rashid, a dealer, also said that it might not be possible to get huge returns from the business this year due to low sales, but was hopeful that the situation might change.
“by this time last year atleast we don dey sell but my sister you see am no customer”
The chairman of the Mile three livestock market SAMUEL OJADI-ORABOR also identified the high cost of transportation as parts of the challenges facing the livestock market.
“the same size I bought last year at N30,000 is being sold for N40,000” he said.
He said conveying the livestock from the North to here in the south south makes the Ram to be quite expensive, looking at the fact that we buy fuel at N145 per litre, and paying of government levies too.
Meanwhile the deputy chief Imam of the mile one Diobu central mosque KHALIFAH MURTALA SULAIMAN said the Eid-el-kabir celebration is in commemoration of the obedience and holiness of prophet Ibrahim.
He said Allah mandated Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his only son which he obeyed.
