The number of cows slaughtered daily in Lagos State has declined from 5,000 to 3,000, reflecting the impact of Nigeria’s ongoing economic challenges, according to the Lagos State Butchers Association.
A patron of the association, Alhaji Bamidele Kazeem revealed this in an interview with newsmen on Thursday, attributing the decline to rising costs, insecurity, and inflation. He noted that the downward trend started in 2015 due to the Boko Haram insurgency and has worsened with the depreciation of the naira and increasing living costs.
“This reduction is due to numerous factors, including economic challenges, terror-related activities, and environmental concerns,” Kazeem explained.
However, he warned that the numbers could drop further as cattle prices continue to soar.
According to him, the price of a cow has skyrocketed, with buyers now paying between N1.6 million and N1.7 million per cow, compared to N400,000–N500,000 in previous years. The sharp increase has significantly affected the affordability of beef for consumers and the sustainability of the butchery business.
