Ramadan: Nupe Traditional Leader Urges Traders to Reduce Food Prices

Last updated Mar 10, 2024

Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe, (traditional Leader of the Nupe People in North Central Nigeria) has appealed to traders in the country not to hike prices of foodstuffs and other commodities as the Ramadan fast approaches.

Ramadan is a holy season when Muslims engage in fasting and the abstinence from food, drink and others from morning to evening for a month.

Alhaji Abubakar, who is also the Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, made the call while speaking with journalists in his palace in Bida local government of Niger state, and on Saturday.

He admonished Nigerians on the need to be their brother’s keepers in line with the teachings of the Holy Prophet of Islam and other Islamic injunctions.

According to Etsu Nupe, traders should fear God and conduct their businesses in consonance with Islamic injunctions and the need to assist their neighbors.

Etsu Nupe explained that marketers should reason with the common man and reduce the cost of their goods, especially food items, to enable people to afford them.

Alhaji Abubakar stated that as the holy month of Ramadan drew nearer, traders should feel the pains of the ordinary people and cut down costs of food items so that they would receive Allah’s blessings in their businesses.

“Those who may be thinking of hiking the prices of their goods during Ramadan should know fully well its consequences before Almighty Allah on the day of judgment,” he warned.

Alhaji Abubakar lamented that it was worrisome how traders deliberately increased prices of their goods such as grains, fruit, beverages, and other condiments during Ramadan when the reverse should be the case.

The traditional ruler charged traders to, in the spirit of the month, reduce the prices of their goods to reap the full benefits of Ramadan.

He said, “This sacred period is a time to seek God’s face through fasting and good deeds.”

The royal father also appealed to wealthy individuals, corporate organisations, and groups to come to the aid of the less privileged as acts of charity are greatly encouraged during the holy month.

Etsu Nupe further stated that wealthy Nigerians should strive to always assist the less privileged in society by providing them with food items and cash to ease their hardships.

“People should use their God-given wealth to assist the poor and the widows; this will go a long way to alleviate their sufferings.

“I appeal to wealthy individuals to assist in feeding the less privileged as this will go a long way in cushioning the effect of fasting on them,” he added.