Butchers and beef consumers across Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are grappling with sharply rising cattle prices, as a seasonal scarcity drives up costs beyond the reach of many households and businesses.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), cattle dealers and consumers in markets such as Durumi and Nyanya blamed the price hike on the transitional period between the dry and wet seasons. This shift, they explained, has caused a shortage of dry-season cattle and delayed the arrival of wet-season livestock, creating a supply gap.
At Durumi Market, a cattle dealer and butcher noted that the price of cows has surged across all sizes. Small cows that once sold for between N350,000 and N400,000 now cost as much as N600,000. Medium-sized cows have risen from N600,000–N700,000 to between N800,000 and N1 million, while large cows now range from N1.5 million to N2 million. The retail cost of beef has also jumped, with a kilo that used to sell for N5,000 now priced at N6,500 to N7,000.
“This is the period when the old species of cows are scarce, and the new ones are not yet fully in the market,” he said. “It happens every year around this time. By June or July, when the wet season cattle are more available, prices should stabilize.”
At Nyanya Market, another butcher described how the price hikes have hurt his business, with many customers turning to other sources of protein. He said he is currently buying just enough cattle to retain a few loyal customers.
Consumers are also feeling the pinch. A resident said she could no longer afford beef for her family and had switched to fish instead. A local food vendor reported having to raise the price of a piece of beef from N200 to N250, noting that many customers now prefer alternatives like kpomo to manage costs.
As the transitional season continues, both sellers and buyers hope that market conditions will improve in the coming weeks, bringing some relief to households and businesses dependent on beef.
