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Butchers in Lagos State have deplored the persistent increase in the price of cows.
The patron of the Lagos State Butchers Association, Bamidele Kazeem, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that the price of cows has risen from N1.7 million in 2025 to N2.5 million.
“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,” said Kazeem.
“If you see a cow of N1 million now, you will be surprised. What we complained about last year is a child’s play compared to the current prices.”
Kazeem cited insecurity, rising transportation costs, and delayed local ranching initiatives as factors contributing to the rise in cow prices.
He added that butchers and consumers are bearing the brunt of the persistent increase as traders struggle to remain in business.
Kazeem explained that the violent wave of insecurity plaguing the country, particularly the northern region, is affecting livestock movement across parts of the country. He also said that the increase in fuel pump prices, which has driven up transportation costs, has worsened logistics costs, especially for cattle transported from northern Nigeria, the main source of livestock for Lagos markets.
According to him, local producers are unable to bridge the supply gap because planned feedlot and ranching programmes in Lagos have not yet begun.
“The local producers are not meeting demand because the feedlots and ranching programme of the state government has not started yet. We still depend majorly on suppliers from the northern states,” he said.
He urged the government to speed up implementation of the Eko Ranching project in Gbodu, Epe, saying it would increase local cattle supply, reduce transport costs, and help lower meat prices.
“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 said.
