Many Muslims had a low-key Eid-el-Fitr celebration following the growing cost of living, which made it difficult for many to celebrate in their usual style.
The surge in the prices of food, fuel, and transportation, along with ongoing security concerns, significantly affected the festive spirit across several parts of the country, reports The PUNCH.
In the northern part of the country, Muslims called for prayers to end the insecurity, hardship, and economic challenges facing the country.
However, there was a low turnout of Muslim worshippers during this year’s Eid-el-Fitr celebrations in Zamfara State due to the economic hardship that has ravaged the country.
The usual heavy vehicular traffic going to the Eid praying grounds to observe Sallah prayers were absent this year as only few people could afford to drive their vehicles around town.
Similarly, very few people were able to buy new clothes or even cook good food for their families for the celebration.
The usual presentation of Sallah gifts (popularly known as goron Sallah) to loved ones had also reduced drastically.
A resident of Gusau town, Mainasara Mohammed, told our correspondent that he did not buy new clothes for his wives and children due to the economic predicament.
He admitted that it was the first time that he would deny his children new dresses during Sallah celebrations.
“For the first time in my life, I could not buy new clothes for my family,” Mohammed lamented.
Also, Senator Lawal Usman, representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, enjoined all faithful in his constituency, Kaduna and all over Nigeria to use the occasion of the Sallah to pray for an end to the perennial insecurity, hardship, and economic challenges confronting the country.
“I urge all Muslims to use this occasion to pray for peace, security, and prosperity in our country. We must come together to pray for an end to the challenges facing us as a nation,” Usman said.
However, the economic challenges facing the country made it difficult for many Muslims to celebrate the festival with the usual fanfare.
“Last year’s celebrations were more elaborate; this year, many Muslims have had to scale down their celebrations due to the economic challenges. However, we remain grateful to Allah for the blessings we have received,” Malam Abdullahi, a resident of Kaduna, told our correspondent.
Despite the challenges, Muslim groups in the state have emphasised the importance of peaceful coexistence, love, justice, fairness, equity, peaceful coexistence with others, tolerance, honesty, and dedication to duty.
“As Muslims, we must continue to uphold the values of compassion, kindness, and generosity. We must also strive to promote peace, understanding, and harmony in our communities,” Sheikh Abdulwahab Abdulkadir, an Islamic scholar in Kaduna, stated.
The Gombe State Chairman of the Coalition of Northern Groups, Mohammed Deba, said there was no visible difference between this year’s Ramadan and last year’s.
He said, “This is the same as last year (2024). This is because of the situation on ground. Since this government emerged, no human development and everything remained the same. The level of poverty has remained unabated. However, many are getting used to the hardship already.”
In Sokoto, a Muslim group named Liberty Progressive Association commended Muslims in the state for peaceful conduct during the celebration.
The group, made up of young Muslim professionals in the state, said despite the hardship, the celebrators enjoyed a peaceful Eid-el-Fitr.
The chairman of the group, Mallam Jamiu Afolabi, said, “This year’s celebration was okay even though there was no money, but residents of the state were able to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner.
“Compare this to some years back, when things were bad, with many accidents recorded, but thank God it was fine this year.
“We also commend the state government for making things easier with the prompt payment of salary in addition to the numerous support given to workers during the Ramadan period.”
Residents of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, witnessed a calm and relaxed atmosphere during the celebration.
Some residents who spoke with our correspondent in Maiduguri said that while the security situation had significantly improved, the economic situation remained the only barrier to the Sallah celebrations in this state.
“Just like everywhere, Borno is calm this period. Though we had a memorable Sallah celebration, but you can’t compare it with previous years,” a resident, Kida Abdulsalam, said.
“It has been about cutting cost. However, I must commend the security agencies for the peace we are currently enjoying.”
Similarly, Hassan Fatima, another resident, noted that families struggled to make ends meet.
“In this period, who spends anyhow? They prioritise food and what children will wear. Thank God we were not ashamed. The Sallah came at a time when the economy is biting everyone hard, food prices are at an all-time high,” she said
Major roads across Osun State yesterday experienced light traffic as residents observed the Eid-el-Fitri holidays with their loved ones in the state.
Many hitherto busy routes, especially within Osogbo, the state capital, experienced light traffic, while a similar situation also played out in other major roads across the state.
In Ota Efun and Igbona markets, both located within the Osogbo metropolis, many shops did not open for business.
Our correspondent, who observed traffic situation in Ota-Efun-Igbona route, Olaiya-Oke Baale route, Gbongan/Osogbo road and Oke Fia-Dele Yes Sir area, noted that few mini-buses that were operational contended with a reduced number of commuters.
A mini-bus operator, who identified himself simply as Peter, said the economic situation in the country played a major role in the fewer number of commuters on the road.
“Many people preferred to stay at home and celebrate Eid with their loved ones instead of going around paying visits to people in far places. The cost of living and transportation is high and people don’t have that excess money to throw around.
“Also, the harsh weather played a part too. Because of the heat, many people stayed indoors during the day time and choose to go out when it is evening time. Many bus operators are not working due to low patronage,” Peter said.
Also, while giving traffic report across the state in a statement obtained in Osogbo yesterday, Osun Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Adeyemi Shokunbi, said major routes in the state experienced limited traffic during the Eid holiday.
Shokunbi stated, “Osogbo-Sekona route, light traffic, Osogbo-Ikirun route, light traffic, Osogbo-Ilesa road, light traffic, Ilesa-Akure road, low traffic, Ilesa-Ife route, low traffic, Iwo-Ejigbo-Osogbo road, light traffic, Ibadan-Ife expressway, light traffic and Ikirun-Ilaodo road, light traffic.”
However, Muslims in Oyo and Ogun states told our correspondent they had a memorable celebration on Sunday.
Chairman of the Muslim Community of Oyo State, Kunle Sanni, said Muslims in the state were not affected by the present economic realities and rather ate and drank to their satisfaction during this year’s Eid-el-Fitr.
He said this was made possible as Muslims heeded the message to be their brother’s keeper, ensuring that their neighbours were not hungry.
Speaking with our correspondent, Sanni said the magnanimity of rich Muslims, political office holders who are Muslims and the Federal Government also helped ensure that they had a memorable celebration.
“One would have thought things would be very difficult for Muslims, but it was the other way round. We constantly passed the message that Muslims should be their brother’s keeper, and they heeded it. They took the admonition this year to heart.
“We said that a Muslim should not feel well when others are hungry. We told them that if every Nigerian takes care of their neighbours, no one will be hungry. This year, Muslims had more than enough to eat.
“Politicians, especially our Senators and House of Representatives members, also supported with food items. The federal government as well as rich Muslims also provided bags of rice and other food items which were distributed across the 33 local government areas of the state,” Sanni said.
He added, “We also enjoyed divine intervention as the prices of food items came down before the celebration. So, we had a good celebration this year, even better than last year,” Sanni added.
Similarly, Chief Imam of Albarka Islamic Society of Nigeria, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Dr Mutiu Agboke, said Muslims trooped out enmasse and had a joyous celebration.
“The celebration went well as many Muslims trooped out to celebrate with their families and they enjoyed themselves. Muslims went to various parks to enjoy themselves. Some visited friends and well-wishers to share the joy of the celebration together,” Agboke said.
In Lagos, some traders endured low patronage as Muslims had a quiet celebration.
“Even though this isn’t the big Sallah, the sales were just too low for those of us selling clothes. In time past, we made huge sales as families came shopping but this year we hardly had people who bought clothes. Personally, I never had it so bad,” a trader in Yaba market, Chuks, told our correspondent.
A food seller in Oja-Oba, Abule Egba, Rose Aigbe, added, “It was business as usual, we didn’t make as much as we used to during festive periods. We all know the economy is biting hard on all Nigerians.”
It was same story at the Sunday Market in Ogba, where a fish seller, who identified herself simply as Mariam, said, “I stocked my freezers ahead of the celebration but only few customers came out to buy fish.”
Meanwhile, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party blamed the ruling All Progressives Congress for the hardship in the land.
In a statement, PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, said, “The PDP is deeply disturbed that while citizens of other countries are celebrating the Eid-el-Fitr in plenty, Nigerians are dampened in spirit due to the unbearable hardship occasioned by the misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration which has worsened in the last two years.
“Our party urges Nigerians, especially those in leadership positions at all levels, to re-dedicate themselves to the path of selfless service guided by love, truth, fairness, honesty and impartiality in all their activities and put away acts of corruption, arrogance, manipulation and insensitivity to the plight of the people.
“Indeed, the Eid-el-Fitr offers us as a nation and humanity the divine portal to redeem our nation by standing up for justice, strict adherence to the Rule of Law and accountability in the polity.”
