Abuja Ram Traders Count Heavy Losses After Sallah Sales Slump

Ram dealers who brought livestock to Abuja for the Eid al-Kabir celebrations have reported significant financial losses following poor sales and transportation challenges that disrupted the festive market season.

Several traders from northern states said they were forced to return unsold animals to their hometowns after demand fell below expectations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Idrisu Yan Tumaki, a livestock trader from Katsina State, said he took about 200 rams to Abuja but was unable to sell them after the holiday period. As a result, he began making arrangements to transport the animals back home.

Other traders from Jigawa and Bauchi states reported similar experiences, saying dozens of rams remained unsold despite expectations of strong demand during the Eid celebrations.

According to livestock sellers, one of the major factors behind the poor market performance was a prolonged traffic gridlock along the Abuja-Kaduna highway in the days leading up to the festival. The congestion delayed the arrival of many traders and livestock shipments, reducing the time available for sales.

Some dealers also reported losing animals during the journey due to extreme heat and the lengthy delays. Traders said overcrowded transport vehicles and extended hours on the road caused stress to many rams, goats, and cattle, leading to deaths before they reached their destination.

At major livestock markets in Abuja, including Dei-Dei and locations along the Kubwa Expressway, traders said sales were considerably lower than in previous years. Many were left with the additional burden of paying higher transportation costs to return unsold animals to their states of origin.

Market operators noted that while a few traders managed to record satisfactory sales, many others struggled to recover their investment, making this year's Eid livestock business one of the most challenging in recent memory.

The traders have called for improved traffic management on key highways during festive periods to prevent future disruptions and reduce losses within the livestock trade sector.

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