HIKE IN PRICES OF FRUITS:
Hard times for Ramadan observers in Kano
BBy Yushau Adamu & Mustapha Isa Kwaru
As millions of Muslims across the world begin the obligatory fasting in the month of Ramadan, Kano Muslims who have awaited eagerly the arrival of the Holy month may have their expectations for a bountiful oRamadan fasting reduced following sudden increases in the prices of food stuffs and goods consumed during the period.
Despite government efforts to make the period a joyous and bountiful one by paying salaries of workers halfway in the month and introducing many other welfare packages for the poor and less privileged, the sudden increases has dampened the spirit of many residents of Kano as the price of dates used for breaking fast shot up to N500 per mudu against N200 last year and beans for Kosai (bean cake) or moi-moi rose to N170 naira per mudu as at Wednesday in most Kano markets.
This is coming on the heels of the recent petroleum price increase which made nonsense of the bumper harvest recorded in most parts of the country this year and also threatened food security as farmers hoard their products to await another inevitable price increase of petroleum products by the government.
When Kano Trust reporter visited the state’s main fruit market, Yan Lemu at Na’ibawa Quarters, he discovered that the prices of fruits are reasonable for now as a sack of lemon could be bought at the range of 3, 500, 3, 000, 2 500, and even 2, 000 naira depending on the size of the sack.
Kano Trust also learnt that the availability of the fruits in the market is adequate enough for Muslims to enjoy their fasting throughout the Ramadan as far as fruits are concerned.
Speaking to Kano Trust at Yan Lemu market, Malam Nura Abdullahi, a lemon dealer, said that the price increase of fruits during Ramadan fasting was not deliberate as according him it was due to the increase in the demand for fruits during the holy month (Ramadan).
“Alhamdu Lillahi, the fruits are now available and it is natural that if there is availability of fruits the prices will come down and if it is scarce the prices will definitely rise but for now I don’t think the masses could afford to buy fruits during Ramadan fasting,” he said.
Malam Nura Abdullahi disclosed further that fruits are cheaper compared to last year saying that if there is any thing to make the price high it would be the recent increase in prices of fuel, which he said will affect the transportation of fruits to Kano from the South. He said before the increase of prices of fuel, one sack of lemon could last a dealer 200 naira to convey it from the South but it was 700 to 750 naira per bag and dealers must consider this in their dealings with customers.
Another contributor, Malam Yan Biju, expressed optimism that “the price of fruits will not increase during Ramadan since the fruits are available in both the markets in Kano and the source in the south we dealers are not increasing the price just like that, rather it was the situation that warranted for any increase in the price whether during or after Ramadan fasting,” he pointed out.
When contacted the state chairman of the Nigerian Fruits Sellers Association, Alhaji Mu’azu Yaro Gabasawa, refuses the allegation that fruit dealers are referring the period of fasting to increase the price of fruits for them to make a brisk business due to the high demand of fruits during the Ramadan fasting. “It was not true that we are deliberately increase the price of fruits during Ramadan, fruits are not like grains which somebody can hoard in a store the price depend on the availability of the fruits,” he noted.
Alhaji Mu’azu Gabasawa explained further that people should always understand that these fruits are produced by some few states in Nigeria, which are not more than 6-7 out of the 36 states of the country, and during Ramadan the entire Muslims of the country need it so it must be scarce since the demand increased. He added that the fruits such as lemon could only be found in four states, Osun, Ondo, Oyo and Benue states. Banana is produced in Akwa-Ibom, Rivers and Cross Rivers and pineapple produced by only Edo State.
He therefore called on the fruit hawkers to lower their prices and not use the opportunity to increase the prices since the fruits are available and at affordable prices.
Alhaji Mu’azu Gabasawa who was also the national secretary of the associations called on farmers in the state to start farming fruits in the state as they have tried water lemon and successfully succeeded.
A cross section of residents interviewed by Kano Trust over their preparations for the Ramadan fasting bore their minds on the issue:
Ahmed Sani, trader has these to say: “Well, thank Almighty God for sparing our lives to witness this year’s Ramadan fasting, which is added opportunity to soul purification, coming nearer to Him but actually the situation is terrible because of the growing spate of inflation of the necessary items needed mostly in this period and the current hike in the prices of petroleum products has escalated the situation.
“A lot of people like me never make proper arrangement to confront the daily needs of the family at this period because there is no money in the country as such even if I displayed my wares for intending buyers, only few are being sold. So as far as I am concerned I with my family will suffer a lot in this Ramadan fasting due insufficient money and I blame federal government for this.
Yakubu Ahmed, civil servant, opened that “the issue of arrangement for the Ramadan fasting could only be restricted to wealthy individuals who can afford any commodity no matter how it costs them but civil servants who rely on the little salary they are paid are just managing. If not because of the kind gesture of governor Ibrahim Shekarau who directed the payment of worker’s salary this week, I wonder how 90 per cent of us could take care of their families, in addition to the rising prices of commodities. Sincerely speaking, workers will not enjoy this years fasting because there is no money in their hands. Even the so called 12.5 salary increment approved by the federal government has only added to their sufferings, because businessmen had increased prices of their commodities, because workers salaries have been hiked all these blames are directly centred on the government for its inability to employ appropriate mechanism to minimise the plight of its people.”
Rabiu Sani, mechanic, observed, “Common man is always the one to suffer in the month of Ramadan, because of the merciless attitude of traders who hike the prices of their commodities when the holy month approached. It is unfortunate that, while Christians reduce prices of items ahead of Christmas, Muslims chose the contrary because they wanted to get rich quickly. My appeal to the government is that a law should be enacted to punish any trader who hikes the prices of his commodities during the Ramadan fasting. Many of us cannot enjoy the mandatory worship due to financial problems.
Meanwhile an Islamic scholar and preacher, Sheikh Yakubu Musa, has appealed to Muslim business tycoons to bring down the prices of foodstuff during this period of Ramadan as enjoined and practiced by prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H).
He lamented that all Muslim and Christian countries reduce prices of foodstuffs and goods during religious and traditional festivals to allow their people enjoy the season except Nigerians. He advised the president of Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote to devote at least five per cent of his annual profit to reduction of prices of his products during fasting periods, adding that the millions spent in the Dangote Raffle Draws could also come handy in making his commodities cheaper for the masses during Ramadan.
Sheik Yakubu Musa noted with concern how governors of Shariah states, with the exception of few, make provisions for Ramadan social welfare for their people. He pointed out that Shariah is about social justice and social welfare, saying “it is not in conformity with Islamic teaching for government to spend millions on spirit and other wasteful ventures without budgeting substantially on the peoples welfare especially during Ramadan.”
The Katsina-based scholar also drew the attention of the Muslim Ummah in general to the plight of widows and divorcees who now formed the bulk of beggars on the streets due to the harsh economic situation.
“The best approach to their problem however is marriage, we should encourage men with one, two or three wives to take such unfortunate sisters and daughters of ours in marriage, and also take in the orphans they carry about. The prophet said that God blesses a household that takes care of orphans. If it is the scare of HIV/AIDS that is discouraging people, they can ask the woman to take HIV/AIDS test before marriage, it is permissible in Islam,” he enjoined.
Mallam Yakubu Musa said Ramadan is a time of peaces a time of sharing and caring among Muslims, and also a time of constant and unrestricted charity from the haves to the have-nots.
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