The Lagos State Butchers Association has complained about how cows’ prices keep going up in the state. They are now as high as N2.5 million, up from about N1.7 million in 2025.
Alhaji Bamidele Kazeem, the association’s Patron, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) this on Sunday in Lagos.
“Cows that sold for about N1.7 million last year are now sold for between N2.3 million and N2.4 million. There was even a time a cow was priced at N2.5 million in the market,” he said.
Kazeem said that the rising prices were putting a lot of pressure on butchers and customers, and that many traders were having trouble staying in business.
Kazeem said that the trend was partly caused by insecurity, making it hard for livestock to move around in some parts of the country and the recent rise in fuel pump prices.
“The car I bought in 2020 for N2.1 million is now cheaper than the price of a cow. That shows how costly cows have become.
“If you see a cow of N1 million now, you will be surprised. What we complained about last year is child’s play compared to the current prices,” he said.
“The supply has reduced because of insecurity in the country and, most recently, the increase in fuel pump price, which has made the cost of transportation skyrocket”, he added.
Kazeem claimed that because planned feedlot and ranching programs in Lagos had not yet started, local producers were unable to close the supply gap. He then implored the government to expedite the Eko Ranching project’s execution in Gbodu, Epe, claiming that it will boost local cattle supply, minimize transportation costs, and contribute to a decrease in meat prices.
“The local producers are not meeting demand because the feedlots and ranching programme of the state government have not started yet. We still depend largely on suppliers from the northern states.
“The gains of the ranch are enormous. It will provide job opportunities for our teeming youths and probably bring down the cost of meat,” he told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Cattle ahead of Sallah festival
Sallah festival, in which Musims faithfuls buy and kill all sorts of cattle and rams, will fall on the 27th of May. Hence, ENigeria Newspaper gathered that there are concerns over the purchase of cattle and rams for the festival come next month.
