President Bola Tinubu, former President Muhammadu Buhari, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, on Sunday, proffered solutions to the economic challenges confronting the country.
Against the backdrop of Eid, which was celebrated amid the high food inflation, Tinubu called on Nigerians to show more care for their neighbours and extend charity to all in the spirit of Eid-el-Kabir.
The President, who observed his Eid prayer in Lagos, emphasised that some degree of sacrifice would be necessary to advance the nation.
In a statement released on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the former Lagos state governor reminded Nigerians that citizenship comes with responsibilities.
The statement read in part, “We have been told by the Chief Imam how we can follow the path of sacrifice. The sacrifice required of a good citizen. Citizenship comes with responsibilities. As citizens, what do we need to do to be committed members of our society?
“Yes, that is sacrifice; loving your country. Loving your neighbours. Sharing what you have with each other. And to always be thankful to Almighty God.”
Lagos Imam
In his sermon, as detailed in the statement, the Chief Imam of Lagos State, Sheikh Suleiman Abou-Nolla, who led the prayers, emphasised the importance of increased love, sacrifice, and care for the poor and vulnerable.
“Our leaders like the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, to mention a few, sacrificed their knowledge, wealth, sweat, and even life, to the growth and development of the country we call ours today. All their activities and actions were geared towards nation-building.
“We must therefore ensure that their sacrifices are not in vain. It is incumbent on us to follow their footsteps to ensure that this nation, Nigeria, continues to grow in leaps and bounds,” the cleric was quoted to have said during the prayers.
The chief imam called on the citizens to pray for God Almighty to grant the President the strength and wisdom needed to fulfil his vision for a better and more prosperous nation.
In his message, former president Buhari urged the citizens to return to farming and buy made-in-Nigeria products.
In a statement released by his media adviser, Garba Shehu, on Sunday, Buhari expressed satisfaction that an increasing number of Nigerians were engaging in agriculture to boost food production, lower prices, and ensure food security for the nation.
Speaking to reporters after participating in the Eid prayer with the Emir of Daura, Dr Faruk Faruk, at the township Eid ground, Buhari wished everyone a happy celebration.
The statement quoted him to have said, “I use this occasion to make an appeal to all citizens to make Nigeria self-reliant. Let us grow our own food. We have shown that we can do it. This is not the time to relent when we see prices going up.
“Let us buy what is produced in the country. The foundation of a prosperous and stable country has been laid by successive governments, and I encourage our youth, in particular, to continue to play an active role in various nation-building efforts.
“I urge the youth of the country to seek to know about the founding fathers of the nation, the important personalities of their regions, and derive inspiration from them.”
The former president voiced concern about uncontrolled population growth, warning it could pose significant challenges for future generations.
“There is a need for greater discussion and awareness about this problem, as well as a need to invest more in education and health.
“Considering the situation in the country, and in the spirit of the sallah, let us help one another and be our brother’s keepers. I wish everyone a happy sallah,’’ Buhari added.
Addressing members of the National Youth Service Corps who have upheld a tradition of paying respects to him every sallah, the former president remarked that “the scheme continues to be a strong fabric holding the country together and urged successive administrations to continue to strengthen it.”
Buhari lauds NYSC
He praised the NYSC as one of General Yakubu Gowon’s most significant achievements during his tenure as Head of State.
The former president donated a cow, 10 bags of rice, and some money to the NYSC members to mark the occasion.
In his Eid message, the Sultan called on the leaders to redouble their efforts in finding solutions to the economic and security challenges facing Nigeria.
He spoke at his palace in Sokoto where thousands of Muslim Ummah gathered to pay homage to him.
Abubakar demanded concerted action to tackle the security challenges to enable farmers to access their farms and end hunger in the country.
He also advised well-to-do individuals in the society to assist the less privileged members of the society.
Imam Malamin Akwara, the Chief Imam of the Sultan Bello mosque, led the two units’ prayers at the Sokoto central Eid ground, where the Sultan of Sokoto, the Sokoto State deputy governor and other top government officials observed the Eid prayers.
In commemoration of the occasion, the President of the CAN, Okoh, called on Nigerians to unite in love and forgiveness, despite the current challenges across the country.
He also urged Nigerians to embody the values of sacrifice, obedience and faith, and to set aside differences and heed the call for unity and peace.
“As Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid-el-Kabir, a festival symbolising sacrifice, obedience, and faith, I, on behalf of the Christian Association of Nigeria, extend warm felicitations to our Muslim brothers and sisters.
“On this auspicious occasion, I urge all Nigerians to embody the values of sacrifice, obedience, and faith in our daily lives. Let us set aside our differences, heed the call for unity and peace, and trust in God’s promise for a better Nigeria. Our nation is in dire need of God’s mercy, peace, and unity.
“In the face of current challenges, let us unite in love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Let us pray for divine intervention in our security, economic, and political struggles. May God’s comfort and strength support the displaced, the bereaved, and the traumatized”, the message read.
Okoh also stated that the country needed God’s mercy, while again calling on Nigerians to work together to build a Nigeria where all citizens could thrive, regardless of religion, tribe or creed, adding that “Together, we can overcome any obstacle.”
The Christian leader noted, “As the Muslim Ummah celebrate this festival, let us remember that our nation deeply needs God’s mercy, peace, and unity. Let us work together to build a Nigeria where all citizens can thrive, regardless of religion, tribe, or creed. Our diversity is strength, and together, we can overcome any obstacle.’’
“I call on all Nigerians to embrace peace, love, and forgiveness. Let us pray for divine intervention in our national struggles and strive towards building a united and prosperous Nigeria. Let us remember the displaced, bereaved, and traumatized, offering them our support and solidarity,” he added
The Deputy President, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Ekiti State, Alhaji Tajudeen Ahmed, noted the challenging economic situation which he said affected the celebration.
Ahmed, who said, “The economy is a major challenge that confronted this year’s sallah”, added that the challenge manifested in the areas of inflation in terms of the high cost of rams and food.
In his message, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education, Dr Muhammad Idris, challenged the stakeholders to renew their dedication to the education of every child, particularly the out-of-school children in the country.
Idris described education as a fundamental right of every child and commended the efforts of the President to eradicate the challenges faced by Almajiri and out-of-school children.
He said the President’s commitment to education and human capital development underscored the dedication of the administration to ensure the welfare of Nigerians while reaffirming the commission’s commitment to enrolling 10 million out-of-school children by 2027.
“I call upon all stakeholders to renew their dedication to education as a fundamental right for every child. Education remains the cornerstone for unlocking the potential of our youth and empowering them to contribute meaningfully to society.
“I am pleased to acknowledge President Bola Tinubu’s resolute efforts to eradicate the challenges faced by Almajiri and out-of-school children in Nigeria.
‘’His commitment to education and human capital development underscores his administration’s steadfast dedication to the welfare of all Nigerians, especially the most vulnerable,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, many Nigerians have lamented the impact of the inflation on the celebration.
In Niger State, residents said they could not afford the high cost of rams and had to settle for chickens which were selling for less than N10,000.
Rams in most Niger markets sold for between N250,000 and N800,000 depending on their sizes.
The small-sized rams sold for between N250,000 and N350,000 while the large sizes sold for between N700,000 and N1 million.
The medium ones sold for between N400,000 and N750,000.
A Minna resident, Suleiman Abdullahi, said that the celebration went well despite the high cost of rams and foodstuff.
“The economy cannot stop it. We have learnt to cut our coats according to our cloth. Most people could not afford the ram and decided to buy chicken, it is the same thing. We will still make our sacrifices. God sees our hearts,” Abdullahi said.
Aisha Umar told The PUNCH, “Apart from the rain which started falling in the morning, everything went smoothly. Even the rain was a blessing because the whole place was cool and calm. We, Muslims, are peace-loving people and this Sallah is an occasion to share with our neighbours friends and families.”
The Imam of the Pen House, Minna, Idris Hassan, who assessed the 2024 Sallah celebration, said the Muslims had once again shown that they do not practice their religion based on the economy.
According to him, despite the prevailing harsh economy, Muslims have shown commitment to Allah.
Ogun residents
Like their counterparts in other states, Ogun residents said the harsh economy cast a shadow on the celebration, citing the high costs of rams, pepper, tomatoes and rice.
They asked the President to be “more purposeful to address the economic hardship as it is making life difficult for the people.’’
Alfa Taoreed Olatunji stated, “The terrible state of our economy is however casting a shadow on the celebration. The prices of things have skyrocketed.
“A bag of rice is over N80,000, a fairly big ram goes for as much as N300,000, N400,000. Only a few people in my neighbourhood bought rams this year. It was a sombre celebration honestly. We pray the Almighty Allah eases things for us.”
Mr Kehinde Yusuf said, “The state of our economy is having an impact on the Eid-el-Adha celebration this year.
“After leaving the praying grounds, we are supposed to go home and enjoy a sumptuous meal but not much of that will be seen because even those who managed to buy these rams at exorbitant prices are at a crossroads because of how much it involves to buy pepper and tomatoes to cook it.’’
Speaking in the same vein, the leader of the Hausa community in Akwa Ibom State, Alhaji Alhasan Saudauki, observed that the inflation dealt a big blow to the sallah celebration.
“Inflation has dealt a big blow to the sallah celebration this year. Many Muslims are unable to meet up with the demands of their families, let alone extended family and friends, because of the high cost of things. But all the same, we give glory to Almighty Allah who is our sustenance,’’ he declared.
He thanked Governor Umo Eno for supporting the Muslims in the state with rice and rams for the celebration.
This year’s sallah festival, a significant Islamic celebration, was marked by Nigerian Muslims amidst skyrocketing inflation rates, which have significantly decreased their purchasing power.
The headline inflation rate in May 2023 a period preceding the Sallah celebration on June 28 and 29 was 22.41 per cent with food inflation at 24.82 per cent, while in May 2024, preceding the recent celebration, headline inflation surged to 36.95 per cent and food inflation reached 40.66 per cent.
Last year’s Sallah celebration was affected by the high inflation rates, but this year’s celebration has been even more severely impacted.
The high cost of food, transportation, and essential items has dampened the spirit of the celebration, leaving many Nigerians struggling to make ends meet.
Economist Shadrach Israel expressed concern about the alarming rise in inflation rates, stating, “The surge in the annual inflation rate from 21 per cent to over 30 per cent in just a year, and the persistent 50 per cent food inflation rate, are clear indicators of underlying structural issues in the economy.”
Israel urged the government to take immediate action, implementing a multi-pronged approach, including monetary policy tightening, supply-side reforms, social protection programmes, and structural reforms to address the underlying issues driving inflation.
He stated, ‘’As the Sallah celebration comes to an end, Nigerians hope for a more prosperous and economically stable future. The government must take immediate action to restore the purchasing power of its citizens and promote economic growth and stability.
“The fact that food prices have increased by 50 per cent compared to last year is particularly concerning, as food is a significant component of household expenditure in Nigeria.”
Another economist, Jonathan Thomas, noted that the high insecurity which has displaced many farmers from the farm belts in the country is a significant structural issue that needs to be addressed.
“The impact of inflation on the Sallah celebration is a clear example of how economic instability can affect the welfare of citizens.
“The significant decrease in purchasing power has made it challenging for Nigerians to afford necessities, dampening the spirit of the celebration,’’ he explained.