The 2016 Eid-il-kabir, Sallah, holds on Monday, September 12, 2016 as Muslims world over will be fulfilling the tradition of ram slaughtering
which symbolizes the festival as laid down by Prophet Ibrahim (SAW).But
as the festival is just a few days to go, the preparations for this
year’s celebration appear to be very low compared to how it used to be
across the country. And the reason is not farfetched.
The economic situation in the country is, no doubt, largely
responsible for the poor preparations as most muslims across the country
are eligible to slaughter ram might have settled for low key
celebration.
Few of the muslims ENCOMIUM Weekly spoke with on their readiness for
Sallah celebration this year also confirmed that the poor economic
situation will surely affect the standard of the celebration as many may
shun ram and opt for whatever affordable to take care of their families
and friends.
According to Musa Alabi,” Surely, Allah is aware of our condition in
Nigeria at the moment and He has enjoined on us as muslims not to put on
ourselves any burden we cannot bear. So, if I can’t afford to kill ram
this year, I believe I will do next year when the economy improves. The
most important thing is to be alive first, it’s then every other thing
may follow.
“I usually kill two rams, but now I don’t think I can even afford one
this year because the prices are beyond the reach of the poor like
myself .This situation in the country now doesn’t support flamboyant
celebration at all. Everything has to be low key. Even, I have cancelled
buying the usual festival attires for children this year because as
we’re preparing for sallah, we’re also preparing for school resumption
and the money is not forthcoming.”
Another muslim, Olatunde Salaudeen also corroborated the earlier
submission. He prayed for Allah’s intervention in Nigeria’s ailing
economy against next sallah so that we can return to the usual way of
celebrating the festival.
“Usually, I kill one big ram every year for the celebration, but the
way things are now I am not sure of slaughtering any. Even rams have not
started arriving unlike last year when they started arriving two weeks
to the festival .But Allah knows best, I may still kill a small one if I
have the means within the remaining few days. The only thing is that
we’re not travelling to my home town this year. And I have also cut down
all other expenses concerning this year’s celebration.
“If you notice, people are not really in festival mood. But in all,
let’s pray Allah to intervene in Nigeria’s situation before this year
runs out so that we can enjoy a better celebration next year. As
muslims, Allah has warned us to be moderate in all our conducts before,
during and after the sallah.”
ENCOMIUM Weekly also visited ram markets in some parts of Lagos, few
of the dealers we spoke to also lamented the ugly situation.
In his assessment of the business this year, Musa Dan Yobe said, “The
patronage can’t be any better this year. The way things are now, it may
even get worse. Not that people won’t buy rams at all, but the
patronage will reduce drastically because of the country’s situation.
“Even, most of us are afraid of bringing in more rams that’s why the
delay from our suppliers in the north, some will arrive this week, but
will surely be expensive. I don’t think I can sell the smallest ram less
than N35,000 this year while the average ones can’t go less than
N65,000 depending on the sizes while we also have those that will be
sold for N100,000 and above. Everything is expensive now, including
transportation. So, that’s why we can’t afford to sell less.”
According to Nuhu Adam from Adamawa,” I have been in this business
for the past 23 years, things have not been this tough. Most of my
customers are scared of the prices despite the fact that they have
booked ahead. Most of the rams available here have been bought in
anticipation that the prices will skyrocket a few days to Sallah which
has become a norm. But the owners are paying for the cost of feeding
them which is also higher now. But Alhamdulillah, we’re alive.
“But the government must do something to better off the situation.
Nigerians are suffering now. And it’s not affecting our business alone,
so it’s in all other businesses. That’s why I didn’t order for many rams
this year. I have learnt my lesson from last year’s experience.”