A Kaduna-based Pastor, Yohanna Buru of Christ Evangelical International Fellowship Ministry, is leading a campaign against increase in prices of food stuff as fasting by Muslims in the holy month of Ramadan enters day two.

The Pastor appealed to traders to either cut-down or not to increase the prices of fruit and, food stuff in the spirit of the month.

Nigerian Muslims commenced their 2017 Ramadan Fast on Saturday following the announcement by Sultan of Sokoto Sa’ad Abubakar of sighting of the crescent moon in several locations across the country on Friday night.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Prophet Mohammed according to Islamic belief.

This annual observance is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Traders always take advantage of the month to hick the prices of essential food items such as date, fruits and grains.

The Pastor, while leading a delegation of 10 Christian clerics and Journalists to commence tour of some of the markets in 23 local governments in the state on Sunday, said God will surely be angry with any trader that double the prices of their goods just because they want to take advantage of the Ramadan season to maximise profit. “Such traders will not enter paradise,” he added.

Mr. Buru said the reason behind the tour is to talk with various market unions and other Fruits seller, not to indulge in the usual practice of increasing prices of food stuff and essential commodities during the season.

The Pastor appealed to traders and whole sales marketers to take advantage of the bounty of the Holy month of Ramadan to even reduce prices of food items considering the harsh economic condition of Nigerians especially widows, physically challenged, orphans and internally displaced persons have found themselves.

“As the holy month of Ramadan commences, Team of 10 Nigerian Christians clerics have launched a Campaign in some local market across the 23 local market of Kaduna State, which is against any attempt to increase prices of food commodities during the holy month of Ramadan,” he said.

A survey conducted by our reporter indicate that the price of a 50Kg bag of sugar now sells for between N18,000 to N20,000 as against N12,000 before commencement of fasting. Similarly, beans has increased from N250 to N450 per measure while a bunch of five moderate size of yam tuber now sells for N4,500 as against N2,000 before fasting. A crate of egg goes for N1, 000 as against N850 before the commencement of fasting.

Mohammed Danauta, Secretary, Board of Trustees of Sheikh Abubakar Gummi Central Market Traders Association blamed the hick on varied Foreign Exchange policy of government.

While commending the team of Pastors during the tour of the market, he appealed to government to create a uniform exchange policy for various categories of Nigerians embarking on foreign trip.

He called on his members to also have the fare of Allah, not to take advantage of the month and unnecessarily increase prices of commodities.

•Photo by Garba Ahmed shows Pastor Yohana Buru (R) and the team during a tour of Shiekh Gummi market in Kaduna.

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