As Ramadan begins Monday, President Bola Tinubu has urged Muslim faithful to pray for peace, unity, prosperity and stability in the country.
A statement signed for Tinubu welcomed Muslims in the country into the holy month of Ramadan, expressed best wishes to the faithful as the month-long fasting commences.
The statement issued by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume and signed by the director of information in the office of the SGF (OSGF), Segun Imohiosen, admonished Muslims in the country to observe the month according to the precepts of Prophet Mohammed.
The statement said: “The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, CON, on behalf of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), has expressed best wishes to the Muslim faithful on the sighting of the moon which signals the commencement of the month-long Ramadan fast.
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“He assured that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is doing everything in his capacity to reduce the burden caused by the removal of fuel subsidy which inadvertently affected the cost of living.
“Sen. George Akume urged the Muslim faithful to observe the holy month of Ramadan in accordance with the teachings of the Prophet (S.A.W) as enshrined in the Holy Qur’an and emphasised the need for them to use the occasion of the fast to pray for peace, unity, prosperity, and stability of the nation. SGF wishes all Muslim faithful a successful fasting season.”
The 2023 Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku enjoined the Muslim faithful in the country to assume Ramadan by seeking Allah’s mercy and forgiveness, especially extending charity to the less-privileged.
A press statement from the Atiku media office on Sunday, said by the sighting of the Ramadan moon, “Muslims across the world, especially in Nigeria, should spend more time supplicating to God for His mercy on the country and on us as individuals.”
The statement said, “The month of Ramadan is a mercy from God upon humanity and all those, who partake of the fasting. It is for that reason that the Almighty also enjoins us to show more love to one another and deepen our charity in the holy month.”
Atiku further enjoined every Muslim to be steadfast in the requirements of this holy month and pray that the Almighty Allah shall shower His mercy and blessings on Nigeria and guide the country to increased prosperity and peace, during and after the Ramadan period.
Oyo State Governor ‘Seyi Makinde congratulated the Muslim Ummah in the state and across the world on the commencement of the month of Ramadan 1445.
Makinde described the holy month as a blessed month in which Allah rewarded the worship of the Muslim Ummah. He charged Muslims to increase their prayers for the country and the state.
He called for increased prayers for the country amid the economic hardship facing the people, stating that though leaders have been doing everything to turn the situation around, prayers are of greater essence at this time.
Makinde equally charged Muslims around the world to demonstrate the lessons of love, kindness and good neighbourliness, as taught by Prophet Mohammed. He admonished those who had enough to remember their neighbours, as many people were going through hard times.
Makinde said his administration had been doing everything possible to mitigate the effects of the economic hardship and would not relent until life became better for all residents of the state.
Katsina State Government, in collaboration with the state’s 34 local governments, allocated N10 billion for the purchase of grains for distribution to its vulnerable residents during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Dikko Umar Radda disclosed this while inaugurating the state and local governments committees that would oversee the distribution of the grains to beneficiaries.
Radda, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Mohammed, said the initiative aimed at feeding 2,166,000 people throughout the duration of this year’s Ramadan.
He said the state government, through the initiative, would be feeding 72,200 people each day of the Ramadan. “This translates into providing food assistance to approximately 2.1 million residents throughout the month of Ramadan.”
The governor explained that the government had also subsidised the price of maize, millet, and guinea corn to N20, 000 per bag for 400,000 households, representing a significant reduction from the current market rates.
Meanwhile, the Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, on Sunday, said the crescent for the commencement of the Ramadan fasting had been sighted.
Abubakar, in a broadcast Sunday night, said Muslims in the country should commence fasting Monday, March 11.
The sultan said the announcement followed reports of moon sighting received from Islamic scholars and organisations from across the country.
He said the reports were duly “authenticated and verified” by the states and national moon sighting committees.
“Consequently, tomorrow (today), the 11th day of March 2024, becomes the first day of Ramadan 1445 after Hijra.
“We, therefore, call on all Muslims to commence fasting accordingly. We call on all Muslims to use this holy month to pray to Allah in guiding the affairs of our great country.
The sultan stated that while this year’s Ramadan was happening at a time when there was acute hardship in the country, “it, therefor, becomes more important for those with means to ensure that they extend their charity far greater than the previous years.” Ramadan, President Bola Tinubu,
“We appeal to the well-meaning individuals amongst us to assist the vulnerable and the poor people with food during this holy month of Ramadan to ease the hardship people are going through. May Allah reward us for our ibadah with Jannatul Firdaus, Ameen.”
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar observed by Muslims worldwide as a month for fasting, prayer, reflection and assisting the needy.
