Nigeria’s Expensive Sallah: Rising Fuel Costs, Insecurity Drive Sheep Prices Beyond Reach of Many Families

Uchechi Okporie Uchechi Okporie May 26, 2026 3 min read
Nigeria’s Expensive Sallah: Rising Fuel Costs, Insecurity Drive Sheep Prices Beyond Reach of Many Families

As Muslims across Nigeria prepare for Eid al-Adha, soaring fuel prices and worsening insecurity are pushing the cost of rams and sheep to painful levels, forcing many families to rethink long-standing Sallah traditions.

In major livestock markets stretching from northern Nigeria to Lagos, traders say the journey of transporting animals has become far more dangerous and expensive.

Frequent attacks on roads, illegal levies, and rising petrol prices have sharply increased the cost of moving livestock across the country.

The impact is now visible in markets where buyers are struggling with record-high prices. Medium-sized rams are selling for hundreds of thousands of naira, while larger animals are reaching prices many average households can no longer afford.

At the Kara livestock market near Lagos, traders described this year’s Eid season as one of the most difficult in recent times.

Many customers were seen walking through markets without making purchases, while others negotiated desperately in hopes of finding cheaper animals for the religious celebration.

Families already dealing with inflation, rising food prices, and economic hardship say the Sallah sacrifice is slowly becoming a luxury instead of a yearly tradition. Some residents revealed they may share livestock with relatives or abandon plans to buy entirely.

Despite the arrival of thousands of animals into major markets, traders fear weak purchasing power could lead to slow sales during one of the busiest festive periods of the year.

The growing pressure surrounding this year’s Eid celebration highlights the wider economic struggle facing millions of Nigerians as Africa’s largest economy continues to battle high living costs and insecurity.

Nigeria Eid al-Adha Economic Crisis

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