Sallah: Ram dealers complain of low patronage amid short supply

Few days before the Muslim festival of Eid-el-Kabir, ram dealers at Mai’adua International Livestock Market in Katsina State complain of low patronage even when the animals are in short supply.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who visited the market on Sunday reports that the animal dealers’ complaint followed the exportation ban by authorities of the Niger Republic military to Nigeria.

NAN reports that this is happening in spite of the federal government’s measures to facilitate smooth trade between the two countries.

Such efforts include the ongoing multi-billion-dollar rail project from Kano-Jigawa-Katsina-Maradi in Niger Republic, which President Bola Tinubu announced recently in Katsina, to be completed in 2026.

Meanwhile, a big ram which cost ₦1.7 million one week ago cost ₦1.2 million on Sunday, while a medium-sized one sold at ₦700,000 last week cost less, as prices of small rams start from ₦100,000.

Bashir Hassan, a ram dealer from Niger Republic, said that authorities had directed that no one should be allowed to exit the West African country with camels, cows, rams or goats.

He added that the directive was due to flooding recorded in 2024 in Niamey, Maradi, Tawa, among others, which killed many animals.

He said, “The authorities expressed fear that the country might experience shortage of animals during this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration.”

Hassan revealed that police, immigration, the army and traditional rulers were directed to seize animals from anyone who attempted to cross the border with them.supply, even though patronage was also low compared with 2024.

He said many animals were seized from those who attempted to cross the country’s border, causing short 

However, another dealer, Alhaji Muazu Maifaru, explained that people from Niger Republic were more affected by the order, saying, “But for the security challenge in some areas, Nigeria has big farms that can provide enough animals, even for exportation.

“People from Niger Republic are more affected than our dealers here in Nigeria, who mostly buy from them.”

Maifaru revealed that Nigeria still exports commodities like maize, pepper, mango, and rice, among others, to Niger Republic.

“You see Mangal rice in many places in Niger Republic,” he said.

He, therefore, cautioned the Niger military authority on such policies, which he said negatively affect international trade. (NAN)