As Muslims faithful in Nigeria join the rest of the world to mark the occasion of Eid-El-Fitr, symbolizing the end of Ramadan, the ambience in some parts of Kogi State carries a somber undertone reflecting the economic hardship ravaging the country.
Credible News correspondent who visited some areas in the state reported that due to the economic downturn, many residents have had to reduce their festive activities, resulting in a lack of celebratory atmosphere.
Traditionally, Eid in the state is a time of social gatherings, communal prayers, and series of other light-hearted activities to commemorate the day’s significance.
However, the economic hardships gripping the region and other parts of the country have cast a shadow over the typically festive celebrations, leading to a subdued observance this year.
Persons interviewed by Credible News unanimously stated that the soaring prices of goods, especially essential items, have significantly impacted their finances, leading them to regard Eid as just another day without any special preparations.
Mr. Musa Ibrahim, a resident of Okene, lamented that “it’s heartbreaking to see how this hardship has overshadowed our Eid celebrations this year. Many of us are struggling to make ends meet, let alone afford the usual festive rituals.
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“As a Muslim, I am obligated to end the Ramadan by performing Zakat (alms giving) with food stuff particularly grains, but I couldn’t even cater for my family well enough, let alone performing Zakat.”
A university lecturer in Lokoja, Mrs. Sabdat Umar who spoke against the backdrop of how things have become extremely expensive in the market called on the government to subsidize goods particularly food products to aid the common man during festivities.
“Walahi, I took N50,000 to the market for Salah shopping, thinking I could get all the things I needed, but to my shock, I was only able to buy half of what I wrote down in my shopping list.
“It is as if they added money to the already expensive products we are grappling with. The government really need to do something about it. It’s either they subsidize food products for us or introduce an effective price control policy that will help us during occasions like this,” she said.
For Akoh Yunusa, he attributed the soaring prices of commodities to man inhumanity-to-man, saying many vendors exploit celebratory occasions to inflate prices and make extra profit.
He called upon the state government to establish a specialized task force aimed at cracking down on sellers who exploit festive occasions by inflating commodity prices.
Event and hangout centers are also not left out from the impact of the hardship as they record low patronage for the festive period.
Manager of G-kas Stop and Chill spot, Awal Ibrahim said patronage for this festive season is significantly lower compared to last year.
“There is no patronage at all. Before we used to have parents come here with their families to have a nice time, but today, there’s nothing like that,” he said.
He decried the hardship situation in the country, as being the reason people can’t afford happy moments anymore.
Credible News.ng
