By Awyetu Asabe Hope
Butchers in Lagos have raised alarm over the soaring cost of cattle, saying some cows now sell for more than used cars.
The Patron of the Lagos State Butchers Association, Alhaji Bamidele Kazeem, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that cattle prices have surged sharply over the past year.
According to him, cows that sold for about N1.7 million in 2025 now go for between N2.3 million and N2.4 million, with some reaching as high as N2.5 million.
“The car I bought in 2020 for N2.1 million is now cheaper than the price of a cow,” Kazeem said, highlighting the scale of the increase.
He attributed the rise to worsening insecurity, high transportation costs, and delays in local ranching initiatives.
Kazeem explained that insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria—where most cattle are sourced—has disrupted supply, while rising fuel prices have driven up the cost of moving livestock to markets in Lagos.
He added that local production has failed to close the gap due to the slow rollout of feedlot and ranching programmes.
“If you see a cow selling for N1 million now, you will be surprised,” he said.
The association urged the government to fast-track the Eko Ranching project in Epe, noting that increased local supply would reduce reliance on northern producers, cut logistics costs, and help stabilise meat prices.
