Sallah: Emergency ram `markets' sprout in Kaduna

October 23, 2012 11:28

NAN-H-13

Rams

Kaduna, Oct. 23, 2012 (NAN) Emergency ram `markets' have sprouted out along major streets of Kaduna ahead of the Eld-ei-Kabir festival on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that rams of various sizes are being hawked along the streets as customers trickle in to buy. 

NAN reports that more than 10 of such markets have emerged this week between Kawo and Ungwar Sarki, along Ali Akilu road.

Also from Isa Kaita road to Rabah road, a NAN check revealed five new sheds erected for the sale of the rams, while between Zango Market in Tudun Wada to Kaduna Station Market, not less than 20 of such spots had been set up.

Some of the ram sellers told NAN that in spite of the problems of security, flood and fuel scarcity, the ram market had not been adversely affected.

They identified ``insufficient money in circulation'' as their main problem, as patronage had remained low in spite of the relatively low prices.

Mallam Kabir Mairago said the Ram Sellers Association had earlier met and agreed to be considerate in the prices to be fixed for the rams.

“We also agreed that on no account should ram sellers inflate prices for any customer, irrespective of tribe.”

Mairago said the prices range from N11, 000 to N140, 000.

Another ram seller, Saleh Bashir, noted that the increase in transport fare due to fuel scarcity, had affected the prices, ``otherwise it would have been even much lower''.

He said the ram merchants were made to pay N680 per ram from Kano to Kaduna as against N300 last year.

Some of the customers at Zango market, told NAN that the prices were low, but complained of ``lack of money''.

One of the buyers, Hajia Bashirat Awesu, said the economic recession in the country has affected the purchasing powers of most Nigerians. (NAN)

MADE/MZA/MZA

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