Ahead of this year’s Ramadan, an Islamic cleric in Nasarawa state, Malam Salihu Akwe, on Sunday admonished traders against increasing the prices of essential commodities.
Akwe, who is the chief Imam of Kwandere Central Mosque, made the appeal in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia.
He noted that the current economic hardship in the country call for humane consideration during and after Ramadan, especially for the less privileged in the society.
Akwe said that the Ramadan season is characterised with abundant blessings and urged marketers not to take advantage of the month to increase the prices of essential commodities in order to get Allah’s favour and blessings.
“Ramadan period is not only a period to pray and fast. Ramadan is much more than just not eating and drinking.
“Ramadan period is a period for Muslims to re-evaluate their lives in the light of Islamic guidance and to shun sinful acts.
“The period is characterised with abundant blessings and it is only when a believer adhere strictly to the teachings of the holy Qur’an and the tenets of the holy month that he will get such Allah’s favours and abundant blessings.
“Ramadan is also a period to pray, fast and seek for Allah’s forgiveness if one has done wrong, and a season to show love, generosity, charity and to extend hands of friendship to the less privileged persons in the society.
“I want to use this medium to appeal to the marketers not to take advantage of the Ramadan to increase the prices of essential commodities considering the current economic hardship in the country,” he said.
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According to him, traders and marketers should not take advantage of the month of Ramadan to increase the prices of goods thereby creating untold hardship on Nigerians.
Besides, Akwe appealed to Muslims and other wealthy individuals to assist Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the less privileged in order to improve on their standard of living during and after the Ramadan.
He said that giving alms to the needy and the IDPs would go in a long way in reducing their hardship as well as improving their standard of living.
The Chief Imam also enjoined Muslims to use the period to pray for peaceful co-existence among the diverse ethnic, religious and political groups for the growth of the country.
The cleric urged the people of the state and Nigerians to live in peace and tolerate one another irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political affiliation for the overall development of the country. (NAN)
