Muslims in various parts of Nigeria are observing this year’s Ramadan fasting in the midst of heatwave, high cost of living and power outages.
Despite these challenges, Muslims are obligated to fast every day from dawn to sunset during the entire month of Ramadan by abstaining from sex, food, drink and smoking. Fasting the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam.
Our correspondents report that Muslims who engage in hard labour in states like Kano, Adamawa, Borno, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have adopted different strategies to cope with the challenges brought by hot weather, high cost of living, and electricity blackouts.
In Kano, labourers and bricklayers among others at construction sites have adjusted their working hours as a result of the excessive heat in the state as they fast.
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They now work early in the morning and late evening when the sun has set and there is less heat.
Speaking about the development, Kabiru Ahmad, a bricklayer at Hotoro area of Tarauni LGA, said, “When we have work now, we try to do it as early as 6am and complete it by 1pm.
“By that time, the heat is less and the sun is not yet at its hottest. It’s still not favourable but we have to do it because it’s our means of survival and taking care of our families. An average labourer is a family man.
“The second option is that we try as much as possible to relax after breaking our fast. We converge with lights and do it during late evening hours. That time is the most suitable moment because you can go on working and drinking water. And after that, you go and sleep.
“Just like I said, this is the tactics we implore to help ourselves.”
He added that though some labourers engaged in full-day activities but it was very rare, depending on the site supervisor.
Another bricklayer, Nasiru Hausawa, who engages three labourers including Ali Muhammad and Abdulmuttalib Rabiu, said they adopted ‘finish and go’ arrangement so that one can easily accomplish his task and go home.
He said because of the Ramadan fast which commenced yesterday, they begin work very early in the morning and stop by 2pm.
He, however, said that some labourers still work from 8am to 5pm.
Similarly, some residents lamented over the electricity outage that hit virtually all parts of the state.
Daily Trust reported that a transmission station covering a larger part of the metropolitan areas of the state was razed by a fire which resulted in two transformers brought down leaving one in operation.
This, among other issues, has plunged most residents into total darkness with significant negative effects on livelihoods.
Sumayya Sani of Mariri area said, “I don’t know what to do because I am supposed to get ice blocks or cold drinks from my fridge to break fast with my family today. With the outage of power, and I have to buy and I have no money budgeted for that.
“Secondly, you can’t preserve anything without electricity and the cost of everything is high.”
On her part, Maryam Musa said she quarrelled with her husband a day before due to hike in the prices of foodstuff.
“Yesterday, I went to the market to do some minor shopping for the fasting. Normally, I was used to buying many things within the range of N10,000 and even bringing back change but the case was different this time.
“My husband being considerate about the inflation of everything in the market this time around gave me N15,000 and I went into the market only to buy one-third of the items. It took a lot of convincing and quarrels to make him understand.
“Things are not easy at all. We are just managing but not enjoying the situation. Today, I wonder about the kind of breakfast many would have. I am telling you that this will be one of a kind.”
We are facing challenges – Abuja labourers
Also, artisans in the Federal Capital Territory have said that this year’s Ramadan fasting has come with triple challenges of harsh weather, drop in patronage, and high cost of living.
Abdulhamid Dangambo, a labourer in Kubwa town in Abuja, said even if they get work, majority of their clients are not ready to pay them based on the current high cost of living conditions.
He urged the government to wade into the situation.
Another labourer who simply gave his name as Adamu Carpenter, said he is expecting to break his fasting with a loaf of bread and sachet water that he had secured to keep body and soul together.
Iliyasu Auta said he left his community in Dutsinma, Katsina State over the insecurity problem, yet, according to him, the job opportunity he was expecting in the city was no longer available.
Yakubu Isah, a construction site worker in Kubwa, told Daily Trust that staying hydrated is essential during Ramadan.
Asked how he is fasting considering the hot weather, Isah, who had been a site worker for 15 years, said: “Dehydration can lead to fatigue, headaches and other health issues, which can make fasting more challenging. Therefore, I always drink plenty of water during non-fasting hours, especially during Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) and Iftar (breaking of the fast).”
Another site worker, Kabiru Muhammad, said he schedules strenuous activities during the cooler parts of the day to prevent dehydration.
Muslim faithful lament heatwave in Maiduguri
Muslim faithful have described the excessive heat without power as unbearable.
Our correspondent, who visited some construction sites within Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, yesterday, gathered that some menial workers get as low as N1,500 to N3,500 per day despite the high cost of living in the country.
Malam Usman Hamza, who worked at a private building site around New City in Maiduguri, explained that the daily pay ranged between N1,500 to N3,500 because of lack of patronage from clients and the high cost of building materials in the country.
“Let me tell you, many of our people have moved to Cameroon and Chad due to lack of work and low pay here. They are getting handsome money there. For instance, if I engage a woman, I will pay her a minimum of N2,500 per day but if he is a man N2,000 pay day.
“Things are not easy in Maiduguri. We are fasting now but imagine the hot weather. We need to work so that we can put food on the table for our families,” Usman said. Another labourer Abdul Ali, who concurred with Usman, said he is looking for transportation fare to move to Chad where he has four friends currently.
In Yola, Adamawa State, labourers continue to work under the scorching sun during the holy month of Ramadan.
Despite the added challenge of fasting, these labourers, including 34-year-old Muhammad Shafi’u Zakiru, 19-year-old Muhammad Salim, and 21-year-old Ibrahim Muhammad, are motivated to provide for their families.
Muhammad Shafi’u Zakiru, who has been working in construction for five years, considers fasting during Ramadan an act of worship.
He believes that Allah has made it easier for them to bear the heat, and he is motivated by the reward that comes with it.
Muhammad Salim, who comes from a family of eight, works nine hours per day, earning N3000. He sees his work in construction as an opportunity to learn and to contribute to his family’s well-being.
Although the job can be challenging during Ramadan, Salim remains committed to his work and is grateful for the opportunity to earn an income.
Ibrahim Muhammad, who contributes to his family’s income, acknowledges that the labouring job can be tiring and challenging during Ramadan.
Many can’t breakfast with dates in Kano because of price increase
Dozens of worshippers come to break their fast at Muhammad Inuwa Dutse in Sallari quarters, Tarauni LGA of Kano State where a bowl of local pap (kunu) and a sachet water are given free.
It was observed that young children trooped out there for the bowl of kunu because it is mixed with sugar whose price is beyond the reach of many. A measure of sugar is sold at N5000.
Last year, a bowl of kunu with amara (fried bean cake) was served during iftar.
People usually share dates for breaking of the fast. This year is however different as many cannot afford dates because the price has more than doubled from the previous year.
Malam Ado, a resident who came to break his fast at the mosque, said people should thank God for good health and assistance from wealthy individuals otherwise this year’s Ramadan would have been very difficult.
Our correspondent, who visited the Kubwa Village Mosque in Abuja, observed how a family of four fed some Muslims who had no food.
The benefactor, Alh Sanusi Bello, told Daily Trust that the current food crisis in the country prompted him to help the needy.
At 6:30pm, the call to prayer for breaking the fast was made at the Agga Islamic Centre in Dougeirei, Jimeta, Adamawa State.
The mosque’s Imam, Sheikh Mika’il Hassan, led the prayer with hundreds of Muslims from various parts of Yola who had come to break their Ramadan fast.
After the prayer, free meals were served, including pepper soup, rice and stew with salads, dates, and chilled water, thanks to the philanthropic community.
Nazifi Muhammad, who came all the way from Kasuwan Katako to break his fast, expressed his gratitude for being able to eat at the mosque, even though it was not his preferred meal.
Aliyu Ibrahim also expressed his gratitude to God for completing the fast and for the mosque’s provision of enough food.
He said many families do not have enough to eat. However, thanks to the food charity at the Agga Islamic Centre, many people were able to enjoy a meal.
Ado Muhammed, who travelled 30 kilometres from Sangere to the Agga Centre, said he paid N300 for transportation to access the free meal. He said almost 400 people came to the centre to break their fast and enjoy the free meal. Ado was grateful to Allah for providing him with ths opportunity and prayed that Allah would give others the heart to feed the poor throughout the fasting period.
