Abuja, Nigeria – In a modest Islamic school in the capital Abuja, teacher Yunus Akanji listens to students reciting the Quran. But this year, he cannot afford to travel home to reunite with family, nor can he buy a ram for the ritual sacrifice as he has in years past.
“I have decided to celebrate with whatever I have,” Akanji, a teacher at Nurul Bayan Islamic School, told Al Jazeera.
No trip home, no ram
Every year, Akanji used to take his wife and children to Saki in Oya State to join the extended family for Eid al-Adha. When he could not travel, he would still buy a ram and hold a small celebration with his family and students. This year, neither is possible.
Even the parents and community who once supported his school are struggling. “Most of them have not yet paid school fees,” he said.
Nafisa Ibrahim, a volunteer from Ogun now working in Abuja, said she canceled her plans to go home for Eid because bus fares are too high: “A ticket costs about 35,000 naira (roughly $26), compared to 15,000 naira (around $11) in February.” She is also uncertain whether her family can afford to buy a sacrificial ram this year.
Livestock market sluggish
At the Kubwa livestock market, seller Malam Ibrahim sits beside his feed supplies, watching sadly as customers ask prices and walk away. “People come, ask the price, and then just leave,” he said.
He points to a black-and-white spotted ram: “This one is 600,000 naira (about $438). Last year, the same size was under 350,000 naira ($255).”
Transport costs for livestock from northern states such as Sokoto and Kaduna have surged due to rising fuel and freight charges. Ibrahim fears that if he does not sell, ram prices will drop even further after Eid.
A woman arrived hoping to buy two rams but could only afford one.
Economic hardship dampens holiday spirit
At Kubwa village market, sellers of tomatoes, onions, rice, and cooking oil all report lower sales than usual. Many families have had to cut back even on basic holiday foods.
Opeyemi Ibrahim, a fashion designer in the Byazhin district, said customer numbers have dropped sharply despite the approaching holiday. “When the power goes out, we have to run a generator. Filling the tank costs about 10,000 naira ($7). But without electricity, the workshop gets too hot, and we still need power to press customers’ clothes.”
“We used to welcome Eid with joy,” a small trader said quietly. “Now we just calculate what we can afford.”
