Ram Prices Double in Kebbi and Sokoto Ahead of Eid, Lagos-Ibadan Traffic Jams Travelers

**Ram prices in Kebbi and Sokoto have roughly doubled ahead of Eid, while Lagos-Ibadan Expressway traffic snarls travelers heading to Lagos.

With only three days left before the 2026 Eid-el-Kabir celebration, Muslim families in Kebbi, Sokoto and neighboring Ogun states are scrambling to buy sacrificial rams. Persistent economic hardship has shrunk purchasing power, making the usual festive outlay a strain for many earners. Market surveys show that although livestock is plentiful, buyer turnout remains low as households weigh competing expenses such as school fees, food and transport.

In Ambursa and Kalgo livestock markets, small rams sell for N100,000–200,000, medium rams for N300,000–500,000 and large or exotic breeds for N600,000–1,000,000. These ranges reflect a sharp increase compared with last year’s averages, when a medium ram often traded near N250,000. A resident of Birnin Kebbi, Ibrahim Sulaiman, said a ram that cost about N250,000 last year now costs nearly N500,000, squeezing household budgets. Traders at the Kara market along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State report similar price levels, offering rams from N200,000 to N1.5 million depending on size and breed. They attribute the rise to higher transportation costs, expensive animal feed, insecurity on supply routes and multiple levies imposed during cross‑border movement. On the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, a trip from Magboro to Berger that normally takes ten minutes stretched to nearly two hours due to Eid-related traffic, stranding commuters and traders alike.

The price jump forces households to either delay purchases, pool money with relatives or opt for smaller animals that fit tighter budgets. Some families have begun contributing jointly to afford a single ram, a practice noted in Sokoto’s Kara and Wamakko markets. Despite the availability of animals, low patronage reflects the squeeze on disposable income, with many prospective buyers seen bargaining extensively without closing deals. Temporary roadside markets have sprung up across Birnin Kebbi and Sokoto as traders try to attract last‑minute shoppers. Watch for any price adjustments in the next 48 hours and for traffic updates on the Lagos-Ibadan corridor as the holiday nears.