– Avoid exploitative price hike, Buhari warns traders
– Sultan urges rich Muslims to assist vulnerable, poor people
Muslims in Nigeria on Thursday, March 23, joined the rest of the Islamic world to commence a month-long fasting of the holy month of Ramadan 2023.
This followed the declaration by the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar Sa’ad III, on Wednesday night following the sighting of the moon across various states of the federation.
Fasting during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar entails abstinence from eating, drinking and sexual relations during daylight hours to achieve greater “taqwa”, or consciousness of Allah.
However, amid Naira scarcity in the country, this year’s Ramadan comes with another experience for the faithful, as they struggle to stock foodstuff in preparation for the 29/30 days.
Besides, Muslims in Nigeria will also be contending with the skyrocketing prices of commodities alongside this scarcity of Naira notes.
Recall that since the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced the newly designed Naira notes as part of its cashless policy late last year, Nigerians have been jostling for the limited cash in circulation.
Muslim News findings revealed that the scarcity of both the old and new Naira notes has increased suffering, as many Nigerians daily besiege banks staying in long queues, gazing at empty bank ATMs all day.
Nigerian Muslims have shared their harrowing experiences on the effects of the scarcity of Naira notes and hike in prices of foodstuff with Muslim News.
Many of the respondents have appealed to the federal government to make things a lot easier for them during Ramadan, the month of mercy, love and charity.
Speaking with Muslim News, Habeebah Gabadeen-Oyebanji from Ajeromi-Ifelodun in Lagos State said, “Honestly, this Naira scarcity has taken a toll on many of us in the country. Sadly, it’s affecting the way Muslims are preparing for Ramadan. The good thing, however, is that Ramadan is ordained, so we start with the help of Allah.”
She added, “Things generally are expensive, not only foodstuff, which is making it quite difficult for people to stock food items as they would normally desire to do. The prices of household foods like bread, corn, meat, rice and eggs are quite on the high side.”
She urged the government to ensure robust distribution of both the old and new Naira notes, while also calling for a reversal of the current withdrawal limits policy.
Market women who deal with large volumes of money should embrace the use of PoS, according to her.
Expressing his view from Otta, Ogun State, Lamina Nurudeen lamented that the Naira scarcity is baffling and the cost of food items unbearable.
“The most painful aspect of it is that 70% of the market women are not ready to sell if you are not paying with cash.”
According to him, some of the expensive commodities in the market are rice, semo, groundnut oil, yam and even fruits. Garri and beans are a little bit cheaper per the information given to me by my wife.
“The government should be able to release more cash to the public to ease the tension. Also, the government should look into price control of all products, especially food items,” he advised.
He appealed to the government to supply foodstuff and other necessities to the less privileged to assist them during Ramadan.
Abdulhakeem Adeoye who lives in Abuja said the Naira crunch being witnessed across the country is an unprecedented chaos that has inflicted more pain, especially in the lives of the masses.
“To prepare for Ramadan, I had to walk a distance into the markets in Mararaba in search of traders who receive transfers for payment. Alhamdulillah, I was able to stock my home with food and other basic needs in the house.
“I think because of the scarcity of cash, the price of foodstuffs in my area is relatively stable. It’s just the extra charges on transfer that I am not comfortable with. If you buy a loaf of bread worth N1000, you have to add 100. The bread itself is already expensive.”
He charged the federal government to make the Naira notes sufficiently available after admitting to the court injunction that the old notes remain legal tender.
Olajide Monsurat from Otta on her part said her family does not have any plans yet for Ramadan due to the cash crunch.
“We have been observing a fast before the commencement of Ramadan. The present prices of foodstuff are too high. Foods and commodities are also scarce. I suggest that the government should make the cash flow, payment and transactions easier and accessible to the people to make the holy month more convenient for Muslims and the populace at large.”
Muhammed Haroon, commenting from Warri, Delta State, said despite the announcement that old Naira notes should be spent, the currency remains scarce.
“PoS operators charge 300 naira for 1000 Naira note. Yesterday at a community, a PoS vendor charged 400 naira on a 1000 Naira withdrawal.
“The prices of foodstuff have been fluctuating. Currently, I think it has reduced a bit. A bag of white Sokoto beans is currently selling for 50,000 Naira. A crate of the eggs is 2,700 Naira and 25 litres of palm oil is currently 16,000 Naira. A big loaf of bread that was 750 Naira during last year’s Ramadan is being sold for 1,200 Naira.”
He joined the call for the government to make the Naira notes available to ease people’s suffering.
Buhari warns traders against prohibitive price hike
President Muhammadu Buhari, in his Ramadan message to Nigerians has warned grocery sellers to refrain from exploiting other Muslims by charging exorbitant prices for food items.
In a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, late Wednesday, President Buhari stated, “As we begin these 30 days of the fasting season, let us not forget that Ramadan is not only about abstention from eating and drinking, but it is a reminder to refrain from all kinds of evil and transgressions that harm humanity.”
“I am particularly aware of the activities of traders who artificially increase the prices of their goods, including food at the beginning of every month of Ramadan. This kind of exploitation is against the spirit of Ramadan and the spirit of Islam,” the President said.
President Buhari added, “While we are observing this important occasion in the spiritual life of Muslims, let us share food and drinks with the less fortunate because by sharing our blessings with others, Allah will multiply our rewards for good deeds.”
Sultan urges rich Muslims to assist vulnerable, poor people
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar Saad III also appealed to wealthy individuals to assist the vulnerable and poor people by providing them with food to cushion the ongoing hardship.
The Sultan, who doubles as the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs called on all Muslims to live in peace with one another irrespective of ethnic background for sustainable unity in the country.
During his nationwide broadcast to announce the commencement of the Ramadan fast, Sultan Abubakar further noted that as the country concluded the 2023 general elections, with leaders emerging at national and state levels, Muslims should use the month of Ramadan to pray for the leaders to steer the affairs of the country successfully, such that this will benefits the citizens.
“As we just concluded the 2023 general elections and leaders emerged at national and state levels by Allah’s will, we, therefore, call on all Muslims to use this holy month for extra prayers for their successes in steering the affairs of our great country,” he said.
