Eid Food Crisis: Prices of Rams, Tomatoes, and Peppers Skyrocket

As Eid al-Adha nears, many Nigerian Muslim families face steep festival costs. In Ogun State’s Kara market, sacrificial ram prices have surged from around ₦200,000 in 2024 to over ₦600,000–₦700,000 in 2025, a threefold increase. 

At popular abattoir markets in Lagos, a ram is now sold for ₦600,000 to ₦1.2 million. Meanwhile, tomatoes and peppers have climbed by 50–70% in major markets.

Over 36 million people in West and Central Africa already struggle to afford basic food; this number may reach 52 million during the June–August lean season.

Soaring Ram Prices

• 2024 vs. 2025: Medium rams in Kara sold for ~₦200,000 last year. In June 2025, they fetch between ₦600,000–₦800,000. Some large rams now exceed ₦1,000,000.
  
• Drivers of the Spike:
  
  1. Niger’s Export Ban: Early 2025 border closure cut off key livestock imports.
     
  2. Feed & Transport Costs: Feed prices rose over 40% year-on-year; fuel and transport expenses climbed similarly.
     
  3. Insecurity in the North: Banditry reduced grazing areas in Borno and Zamfara, shrinking supply.
     
  4. Naira Depreciation: A 20% drop in the naira between mid-2024 and mid-2025 made imported inputs costlier.

Spiking Vegetable Prices

• Tomatoes:
  
  1. June 2024: ₦2,302 per kg on average—a 320.7% jump from ₦547 in June 2023.
     
  2. May–June 2025: A basket soared from ₦60,000 in May to ₦70,000 in June, up 16.7% in one month.
     
• Peppers:
  
  1. Early 2024: Three pieces cost ₦100–₦500. By mid-2024, they were ₦1,000–₦2,000.
     
  2. June 2025: A large bag now sells for ₦150,000—400% higher than the previous year.
     
• Supply Disruptions:
  
  1. Mokwa Bridge Collapse (May 2025): Severed north-south route, driving up transport fees.
     
  2. Pest Infestations: Tomato blight and pepper wilt in Kaduna and Niger State slashed yields.
     
  3. High Input Costs: Imported fertilisers and pesticides rose with food inflation at 36.38% in June 2024.
     
  4. Seasonal Scarcity: End-of-harvest shortages before new crops hit the market.

Regional Food Insecurity

• Current Strain: Over 36 million people in West and Central Africa lack enough food as of mid-2025.
  
• Lean Season Projection: Up to 52 million could face hunger between June and August 2025.
  
• Domestic Impact: In Nigeria, where 38.4% live below the poverty line (₦158,000/year), the combined cost spikes force impossible choices between religious obligations and daily meals.

Economic & Policy Context

1. Fuel Subsidy Removal (May 2023): Transportation costs rose over 50% by April 2024, cascading into higher food prices.
   
2. Inflation: Headline inflation averaged 24.6% in 2024; food inflation hit 30.3% in June 2024.
   
3. Forex Restrictions: Tighter controls limited dollar access for essential farm inputs.
   
4. Rural Insecurity: Banditry in the North displaced farmers and cut livestock production; over 70% of farms remain rain-fed, leaving them vulnerable to drought and floods.

Potential Relief Measures

1. Emergency Livestock Imports: Reopening borders to rams from Benin or Burkina Faso to boost supply.
   
2. Price Stabilisation Funds: Subsidise feed or offer low-interest loans to northern herders, increasing local livestock stocks.
   
3. Infrastructure Repairs: Urgently fix Mokwa Bridge to cut transport costs (estimated WFP savings of 30%).
   
4. Targeted Cash Transfers: One-off stipends (≈₦150,000) to vulnerable households for minor sacrifices, aligning with religious exemptions.
   
5. Support for Local Production: Invest in greenhouse farming and modern ranching, given that 70% of farms are rain-fed, to reduce future shocks.