Muslims are complaining and demanding a change in policy due to the high cost of goods

Muslim faithful during Eid prayers at Oluwa Ni Nsola estate in Lagos… yesterday.

Muslims yesterday asked the government to consider more people-friendly policies even as they lamented the cost of goods in the market.

Faithful Muslims traditionally sacrifice rams during the Eid-el-Kabir festival, but an investigation has found that inflated prices are making it difficult for people to purchase them.

Apart from the increase in the price of rams, the rising cost of groceries has also contributed to the financial burden faced by many Nigerians.

Speaking to The Guardian, the chairman of Oke-Odo Tomato Traders Association, Ile-Epo Market in Dahiru Dogo said: “We all know what is happening in the country and the main problem is that our currency has no value anymore. Everything is expensive in the country. We used to blame the dollar exchange rate, but are we still dealing with the dollar as it was?

“Last year, we sold a basket of tomatoes for N30,000, but now it sells for N150,000. A basket of tomatoes sells for N75,000. A basket of peppers, which used to sell for N40,000, now sells for N120,000 to N130,000.

“Nigeria needs a lot of prayers and we must continue to pray as we talk to the government to reconsider its policies. Tomatoes, peppers and yams are not imported. So why are they so expensive? Can we also blame the dollar exchange rate for this?”

Ibrahim Adam, a resident of Lagos, explained his decision not to kill a ram during the recent celebrations due to the exorbitant prices of rams.

According to Adam, the cost of acquiring a good ram ranges from £450,000 to £800,000. He claimed that for many families this expense is so great that it causes them to refrain from the traditional offering.

Adam pleaded with the government to step up efforts to alleviate the economic hardships faced by the people.

He stressed the need for policies that effectively reduce the financial burden on citizens and ensure that religious and cultural practices, such as sacrificial rites, can be observed without excessive effort.