Some Muslim faithful resident in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Tuesday said the high costs of ram and other foodstuffs won’t stop them from celebrating the Eid-al-Adha.
They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that they were eager to partake in the yearly ritual in spite of the economic challenges.
A civil servant, Abdulrahman Kolawole, said he could afford a ram for the yearly sacrifice, but would join with other relatives to buy a cow that would be shared amicably.
“The most important thing is sharing, giving and caring for your neighbours and people around you. It is a sacrifice that awards blessings if done from the heart.
“The thing is, my family and I are always enthusiastic about this period because it is a time to celebrate and merry together and also to be thankful for Allah’s kindness to humanity.
“So, we will celebrate, whether the prices of ram and foodstuff are high or not, we will afford what we can and still merry. Allah is gracious and we are happy,’’ he said.
Kolawole, while lamenting over the exorbitant cost of ram and other livestock ahead of the celebration, advised those who could not afford the item to make alternative arrangements based on their might.
Also, a business man, Alhaji Yawu Mamman, said he had already made provisions for foodstuff ahead of the celebrations for his family.
Mamman said he was able to buy all that his family would need for the celebration in spite of the skyrocketed prices of goods, adding that he could not afford ram because of the price.
He said: “I just asked my wife to buy chickens so that we can cook and share among friends and relatives.
“I was able to make the ram sacrifice in other years but things are a bit tough now, so we will make do with what is available.
“This is because tough times cannot stop us from performing our religious obligations.
“In sha Allah, we will share food with as many that we can reach and people that will come visiting. It is Allah’s message and we hope to deliver it.”
Also speaking, a businesswoman, Hajiya Saadatu Abdullahi, told NAN that she and her family would celebrate the festival in her home town, Zaria, Kaduna state.
Abdullahi said the fuel price among other economic issues was a challenge enough to stop a lot of people from celebrating like they used to in the past.
She, however, added that, with good plans and cut costs, people should be able to adjust and still merry during the festivities.
In a related development, NAN correspondents who visited some of the ram stands in Bwari and Kubwa areas of the city, report that livestock price ranged from N250, 000 to N350, 000, depending on their sizes.
A ram seller, Mr Amos Ayu, said he had low patronage due to the high cost of rams while attributing the cost to the economic situation in the country.
“Before now, to transport one ram from Katsina to Abuja cost between N1, 000 and N1, 500, but now it costs N3, 500 whether small or big.
“In the past, the highest amount you can buy a very big ram is N100, 000 to N150, 000 depending on the size, but now, the biggest goes for a negotiable price of N250, 000 to N350, 000,” the trader said.
NAN reports that Eid-el-Kabir is a festival of ram sacrifice, an act of Ibadah (worship) to Allah as practised by Muslims globally.
Muslims in Nigeria celebrate the festival by going to the praying ground in the morning, slaughtering of the sacrificial ram and sharing meals with family and friends.
…High fares prevent passengers from travelling
In a related relationship, some intended travellers in Lagos boycotted travelling for the Sallah celebrations and instead sent parcels to their relatives in different parts of the country due to an increase in fare.
In separate interviews Tuesday, some of the passengers in Lagos lamented the increase in fare.
One of the intended passengers at a garage in Ijora, Tawakalitu Adio, said she decided to send parcels to her relatives due to the hike in transportation fares.
“I am a tailor in Agbara along Badagry Expressway and wanted to travel to Esie in Kwara with four children but I couldn’t due to ridiculous fares.
“I thought the fare will be like N5, 000 per person but to my surprise, the price is N11, 500 per person which is more than the money I budgeted for.
“I saw some people sending parcels, then I asked if I could also send without going to Kwara, then we chose the option.
“I sent many items to my relatives who will be burying her mother after Sallah with N6, 000. I am now going back home to celebrate Sallah with my children in Agbara,” Adio said.
Another traveller, Moshood Adeyemi, said he sent clothes to his loved ones in Oro, Kwara state, due to the high fare on transportation.
Adeyemi, who is a tailor, said although he had been preparing for the trip, he lost his savings to scammers when the naira redesign policy was announced.
A passenger at Emirate Park in Ijora, Fatimoh Razak, said she boarded a 14-seater bus for N10, 000 with her two children making it N30, 000.
Razak said she was determined to travel for the Sallah celebration and had been saving money and she thanked God for making it possible for her.
At Ojota garage, a passenger, Yusuf Ishola, said she left Ijora hoping to get cheap transport at Ojota, saying the price was the same N10, 000 each for the 18-passenger bus.
Another passenger at Ojota garage, Rufai Salami, said transportation to Ibadan too was on the high side.
He said they boarded a Toyota Sienna bus to Ibadan for N7, 000 per passenger while some buses collected N5, 000 due to the subsidy removed on petrol.
In his response, the Chairman of Emirate Park, Iso-Arin Ijora, Omotoso Eledie, said they were not happy with the increase in fare, adding that they had no choice due to the increase in the price of petrol.
Eledie said few buses were able to travel with passengers and that the increase in fares sent many passengers back home.
“We buy fuel for N530 and above, the traffic on the road was not encouraging too.
“We appreciated the government for rehabilitating Lagos to Ilorin road but they should release some line portion to ease the traffic because many vehicles travel at the same time.
“We charged N4, 000 to Lagos in 2022 and we are carrying it now for N10, 000 due to subsidy removal.
“Mechanics have also increased prices of their services while motor spare parts prices have gone up beyond expectations,” he said. (NAN)
Tinubu celebrates Sallah in Lagos
Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has joined Muslims in Nigeria and all over the world in observance of Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
Tinubu returned Tuesday evening from London ahead of Wednesday’s Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
Tinubu’s Gulfstream jet arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, at 05:05 pm local time where he was welcomed by a waiting crowd of supporters.
This concludes his one-week trip to Paris—where he attended a summit for A New Global Financing Pact hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron—and London, for a private visit.
In a Sallah message, President Tinubu stressed the need for Nigerians to multiply their good deeds.
“We must thank Almighty Allah for the grace to witness another Eid. As we immerse ourselves in the joy of this moment and celebrate, let us remember those who may not be as fortunate like us.
“Coming as the end of religious activities spanning the first ten days of the Islamic Month of Dhul Hijjah, Eid-el-Kabir enjoins us as Muslims to show mercy and compassion to our fellow humans.
“Eid-el-Kabir is a festival of sacrifice and total obedience to Allah as exemplified in the exceptional action of Prophet Ibrahim.
“There is no greater sense of duty ever recorded in history outside the ennobling example of Prophet Ibrahim in offering his only son Ismail as sacrifice to Allah.
“The best way by which we can demonstrate this example is in how we conduct ourselves in relation to our fellow citizens and in our duties to our beloved country. We must imbibe and manifest those values inherent in Prophet Ibrahim’s life, namely; complete devotion to Allah, tolerance, patience, perseverance, selflessness, love and compassion.
“This season, let us endeavour to multiply good deeds with our kindness to our fellow Muslims and others by helping and supporting the weak and vulnerable in our communities. By so doing, we showcase the values and virtues of our faith.
“At the moment, our country is going through some challenges especially with our struggling economy and simmering security challenges. While I acknowledge all of these, I want to assure you that they are not insurmountable. I am working day and night with my team, fleshing out solutions. We have started with the decisions taken so far, to reform our economy and remove all impediments to growth.
“As we embrace the present challenges, we must face the future with vigour and Renewed Hope with the confidence that our tomorrow shall be better and brighter,” the statement said.
