With hours left before the commencement of the month-long Ramadan fasting period, HAFEEZ OGUNREMI speaks with some Muslims on the high cost of living in the country and how it impacts their plans for the holy month.
FOR many Muslims, the month of Ramadan is a month-long fasting period which annually begins after the sighting of the moon is ascertained by the spiritual leader. The Sightings of the moon are done all over the world, from Saudi Arabia to the far northern corner of Sokoto, Nigeria, where the Sultan of Sokoto resides.
It is not unusual for preparations to be in earnest for the month-long period with many going to the markets to stock their stores and kitchens with enough food for the period, but as of today, lamentation and complaints rent the air following the poor state of the country’s economy. The constant rise in prices of goods and foodstuffs has become unbearable for many Nigerians and their families.
As the skyrocketing prices of foodstuffs seem to affect all food produce and even fruits, many Muslim folks have been thrown into confusion regarding how they prepare for this year’s Ramadan. This is because even locally-made foodstuffs have not been spared in the constant hike in prices of goods, leaving the masses with little to no option.
Be it at the markets, at home, religious centres or even within a small gathering, most conversations among the people are about the deplorable state of the nation.
For a family of six depending on the country’s minimum wage of N30,000 which was approved in 2019, it means such family will depend on a N1,000 every day of the month, which ironically is less than a dollar going by the exchange rate as of today.
Despite the nationwide outcry for many months now, there has been little or no improvement in the economic situation of the country and the attendant inflation of food and other items.
Speaking to Sunday Tribune on her preparation for the holy month, Alhaja Ayegbami, who sells provisions at Sapati area of Ibadan told Sunday Tribune that “the price of goods has made it tough for us to prepare for the month of Ramadan and it has made preparations for the holy month stressful.
“Prices of essential items like rice, meat, milk, pepper, etc, have continued to increase rapidly and it has made preparations for the holy month challenging. Even finding different alternative options in Nigerian made products has not been easy.
“The price hike has affected everyone, especially those of us who are selling the goods. The increase in prices has placed a strain on our business and has affected our daily income drastically.”
Also lamenting the situation of the country, a man who identified as Muideen Oyediran said: “About two weeks ago when a dollar exchanged for N1,900, gari was sold for between N900 and N950 in some places, but gari is now being sold for between N1,000 and 1,100 at the wholesale market. This has forced people at home to buy gari for N120 or N130 per milk cup.
“We can’t even talk about rice at the moment. Rice that was sold at N75,000 per bag about two weeks ago is now being sold for around N83,000 per bag. What you find in it is not up to a bag now; sometimes we find 29 or 29 and a half congos in a bag.
“We are now at the mercy of white beans which was taken as an alternative before now because beans is now sold between N1,300 and N1,400. Ewa oloyin, on the other hand, is now being sold for N2,000.”
He expressed worry that the economic situation in the country is getting worse by the day, saying that “Instead for the economy of Nigeria to get better, it’s getting worse by the day.”
Oyediran further said: “Soap is now expensive, soft drinks are now more than N5,000 per pack. We don’t understand where the nation is going at this rate. A can of milk is now sold for N800. And you know we cannot do without milk because of our health during the fasting.
“A bunch of bananas that was not more than N200 is now being sold for N500. Everything has gone. Ewedu is now N200, a quantity that is just enough for a day’s soup. May God help us, and we know that we have to fast. It is a must.”
Sunday Tribune reports that the health benefits of taking fruits and proteins are constantly emphasised during the month of Ramadan by various health experts. This is because milk and other body building food products provide essential help to anybody abstaining from food for a prolonged period of time, but getting such now feels like luxury because of the exhobitant prices they are sold for.
A motorcyclist, who craved anonymity, said: “The constant price of goods has been hitting us hard for a while. Nothing is easy again. Before now, you can get various foodstuffs like rice, gaari, beans, yams, pepper, from the market without spending too much, but with the situation of the country at the moment, it is no longer possible.
“The prices of goods keep on climbing and the money which we earn daily is not enough to keep up. One is trying to feed one’s family, but the pay is not enough to cater for oneself at the moment.
“Everything is just tough in the country. We are praying and appealing to the government to find ways to ease up the pain we are experiencing, because it is getting too much.”
While still at Alhaja Ayegbami’s store, a customer, Tunde, who was purchasing some food items at the time opted to contribute to the discussion.
“The rate at which everything is high in the country is alarming, especially as Ramadan is near the corner. We are tired, especially the less privileged because this is a basic need for everyone, especially when it comes to food. We do not expect things to get to the stage where they are now. Unfortunately, it is getting out of hand and it keeps worsening.
“Gari was not a standard meal when we were kids. Now, gari has become what we cannot afford. How are we expected to cope during Ramadan now? Rice is now N2,800 per congo. There are those of N3,000 and those of N3,500.
“We do not even understand how we are going to cope with this Ramadan coming. All we are hoping for is for God to make it easy for us. Our work is not even going well again. The little we used to get as profit from a day’s work is what we use to take care of our needs.
“What we spend on food now is too much and there is not enough profit from work with which we can say we want to stock up. We are tired. Help us beg the government. We are tired,” Tunde lamented.
