Kara, Nigeria (AP) – Muslim families in West Africa are grappling with the soaring prices of Rams for traditional sacrifices, a pivotal aspect of the Eid al-Adha celebration, reflecting the deepening economic and humanitarian crisis in the region.
At the Kara Livestock Market in Ogun State, Nigeria, both sellers and buyers are feeling the pressure. Prices have surged to at least double compared to last year, causing a slowdown in sales in markets that typically buzz with activity in the lead-up to Eid.
“We began negotiations for Rams—last year we paid 200,000 naira ($127), and this year it’s 600,000 naira ($380),” shared Abiodun Akinyoye, who was on the hunt for meat for the festival.
Last month, the United Nations World Food Programme noted that over 36 million people were affected. People are struggling, with projections indicating that this number could rise to 52 million during this year’s lean season from June to August, as many face challenges meeting their basic food and nutritional needs in West and Central Africa.
More than 10 million of the most vulnerable individuals have been displaced across the region due to conflict, according to the WFP, which cites food inflation and extreme weather as additional significant challenges.
“We are at a juncture where millions of lives are at risk,” stated Margot van der Velden, Regional Director of WFP.
With the majority of Muslims facing severe hardships, families who once bought Rams for the joyous festival are struggling to maintain that tradition due to financial constraints.
“Everyone is feeling the pinch,” lamented Nigerian lamb seller Jaji Karigini, referring to the rising cost of living exacerbated by President Bola Tinubu’s economic measures, including the removal of subsidies. “We are unsure of our next steps.”
In a country like Niger, where tensions are rising, the military government has banned the export of Rams to stabilize local supply, which has worsened living conditions. While this has improved local availability, it has strained supplies in neighboring Nigeria and Benin.
“There’s an abundance of livestock in Niger,” remarked Hasoumi Daouda, present at the local market for Rams. “But it’s a financial crisis—prices are too high.”
Even in predominantly Muslim nations like Morocco, authorities have urged citizens to reconsider their purchases of sheep this year due to soaring inflation and climate change.
This predicament raises questions about the necessity of the Ram sacrifice in Islamic practice. Nigerian Islamic scholar Bukola Hamed noted that the tradition is not obligatory for those who “truly cannot afford it.”
However, Mikel Adekunle, another Islamic scholar, emphasized that those who can afford it have a “responsibility to share meat with their less fortunate neighbors.”
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Adebayo reported from Abuja, Nigeria ____
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Source: apnews.com