Ramadan: Christian, Muslim Leaders Ask Governments To Control Food Prices

From Shettima Abdullahi, Kaduna
Uncontrolled rise in food price and commodities situation in Nigerian markets across the country is currently a source of worries for religious leaders who have now canvassed a swift intervention by governments at all levels.
Pastor Yohanna Buru the General Overseer of Christ Evangelical Intercessory Fellowship Ministry Sabon Tasha, who led a Team of Muslims and Christian clerics on a tour of some markets in Kaduna, including the central market of Kaduna ,Kasuwar Barchi Kaduna, Railway Market, Barnawa Market, Sabon Tasha market and at Unguwar Dosa Kaduna North, said rising food prices in markets today has pushed many Nigerian into hardship.
His words: “Most marketers put prices of their products high and sell it the way they want without any fear of the Almighty God in their hearts. This is making life extremely hard for citizens. The Almighty God is not happy with the activities of Nigerian marketers and their behavioural attitude of taking any opportunity to doubled prices of goods.”
Pastor Buru appeal to the state and federal governments to redouble their efforts in providing adequate fertilizers for this year’s farming season, so as to support farmers in producing large quantity of food crops.
He also called for the re-introduction of price-control-system in Nigerian market, so as to reduce the menace of cheating the public and extortion by traders.
As Ramadan approaches, Pastor Buru urge businesses to reduce the prices of all goods and services to enabled citizens buys foodstuff and fruits at affordable price, and help Muslims to observe Fast and daily prayers in the holy month without fear of food items rising in the markets.
One of the Muslim leaders on the tour, Alaramma Abdulrahman Mohammad Bichi, also appeal to marketers to think of meeting God and the consequences of indiscriminate increase in prices of food in the market towards and during Ramadan ,adding that “Allah is watching them.”
The Muslims scholar also emphasized the importance of price-control-system in Nigeria, “so that all prices of goods and services will be equal in all markets, not the way every marketer is selling his product the way he wants it without any fear of Almighty God or the authority.