Ram sellers lament low sales

One day after Eid-el-Kabir celebration, ram sellers in some markets visited in Lagos on Thursday continued to lament of low sales, with many rams left unsold, our correspondent reports.

A check by our correspondent at Sabo Market in Ikorodu, Owode-Elede Market beside Mile 12, and Kara Market, revealed that many ram sellers could not hide their disappointment at the poor level of sales recorded.

Alhaji Yahaya Jubril, a ram seller at Sabo market, Ikorodu, attributed the low sales to the economic situation in the country, which, he said, reduced the purchasing power of many citizens.

“Last year, I sold about 60 rams for Sallah, but as I am talking to you now, I have only managed to sell 20 of the 70 rams that I have.

“The sales was so discouraging that I had to sell some of the rams at discounted price on Sallah day, because I noticed that customers that had been coming were only making enquiries and not buying,” he said.

Another ram seller at Kara Market, Abdullah Yusuf, said that he did not make brisk business during the festive season, as most of his regular customers did not sacrifice ram.

“Some of my regular customers that I called when I did not see them in the market told me that they would sacrifice either chicken or turkey since they could not afford ram.

“One of my regular customers that usually buys about 15 to 20 rams annually as gifts only purchased five this year.

“Some customers that felt it was mandatory for them to sacrifice ram came to buy on credit, pending when salary would be paid at month end,” he said.

Also, Muktar Mohammed, another ram seller at Kara Market, said, “Last year, I lost a lot of money because of unsold rams — some were stolen, some died — so this year, I only acted as agent that assists Co0peratives rear rams and cows for Sallah”.

Similarly, Alhaji Tunji Balogun, a livestock seller at Owode-Elede Market, beside Mile 12, said that he would negotiate sales of the unsold rams with some butchers to recoup his investment and reduce the number left with him.