President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration is working hard to address food inflation occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect of floods on agricultural activities in the country.
The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said Buhari stated this in his Eid-el-Kabir message to Nigerians.
The occasion of Eid-el-Kabir is being celebrated across the world.
In the message marking the auspicious Muslim occasion, the president restated the determination of his administration to create a just, harmonious and prosperous country in which the safety of life and property is assured.
While reflecting on current challenges facing the country, the president stated that “COVID-19 pandemic had taken a heavy toll on the economies of all countries, including Nigeria”.
He added that floods had caused large scale destruction to agricultural farmlands, thereby “impacting negatively on our efforts to boost local production in line with our policy to drastically reduce food importation.
“No government in our recent history has invested as heavily as we are doing to promote local production of about 20 other commodities, through the provision of loans and several other forms of support to our farmers.”
The president noted that apart from the destruction caused to rice farms by floods, middlemen had also taken advantage of the local rice production to exploit fellow Nigerians.
According to him, this has further undermined government’s efforts of supporting local food production at affordable prices.
“As an elected president who enjoys the goodwill of the ordinary people that gave us their mandate, let me assure you that we are continuing with measures to bring relief to Nigerians, including making fertiliser available at affordable prices to our farmers,” he added.
The president also noted that the current insecurity in the country “has produced severe and adverse effects on agriculture because farmers are prevented from accessing their farms by bandits and terrorists”.
Buhari reassured Nigerians that his administration had taken measures to address the nation’s security challenges.
“We have started taking delivery of fighter aircraft and other necessary military equipment and hardware to improve the capacity of our security forces to confront terrorism and banditry,” he said.
On the significance of the Eid-el-Fitr celebration, the president appealed to Muslims to demonstrate the good virtues of Islam through personal examples and practices.
He said: “Taking advantage of the celebration to exploit fellow citizens through outrageous prices of food and rams is inconsistent with fine virtues of Islam.
“As practising believers, we shouldn’t seek obscene profits by making life difficult and miserable for others. We should not seek happiness at the expense of others.
“Remember that Islam is a religion of charity that urges us to love our neighbour as we love ourselves.”
He urged all Muslims to continue to live in peace and harmony with their fellow Nigerians of other faiths in the spirit of peaceful coexistence.
“Let us pray for the progress of Nigeria at all times. Let us expose undesirable elements among us who are creating security problems for the country,’’ the president further appealed to Nigerians.
Former Governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, called for greater faith, brotherly concern as Nigerians celebrate.
He said in a statement: “On this occasion of Eid-el-Kabir, I extend warmest greetings to our Muslim brothers and sisters in Nigeria and around the world. We give utmost gratitude to Almighty Allah SWT for His munificent blessings and abiding love for all mankind.
“As we celebrate let us never forget the reason for Eid-el- Kabir. We commemorate an act of complete faith in Allah and His instructions unto us. Thus, let celebrate but may we also dedicate ourselves to greater adherence and obedience to the compassionate and spiritually nourishing commands of Almighty Allah.
“Celebrate yes, but let us not forget the poor and vulnerable among us. Reach out to give solace and succour to those unable to help themselves. Show brotherly concern and compassion to all. To be a good Muslim is to be a caring and generous human being. The challenges that we face as a nation call upon us to adhere even more closely to Allah’s commands so that we may overcome these challenges and continue to build the just and prosperous society destined for us.
“This Eid, we must, therefore, beseech Almighty Allah to protect the weak, feed the poor and give us the courage and wisdom to subdue and defeat those who would do violence and destruction to the innocent.
“We pray for our gallant soldiers and other security agents confronting these agents of evil people. we pray for the unity and stability of this country. Let us also remember President Muhammadu Buhari, our governors and other leaders in our prayers so that they can continue to confront and surmount the challenges facing this country so that together we can enjoy the benefits of a better Nigeria.
“Once again, I wish Muslims and indeed all Nigerians a happy Eid-el-Kabir”.
Also, Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, congratulated Nigerians, especially Muslims across the country, on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir festival.
Sanwo-Olu, while rejoicing with Muslims on the celebration, urged them to celebrate with caution in the wake of the third wave of coronavirus infections in the country.
In the Eid-el-Kabir message on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Gboyega Akosile, the governor also advised Muslims to keep to all the COVID-19 protocols as they celebrate.
He urged residents, especially Muslim faithful, to imbibe the lessons of sacrifice made by Prophet Ibrahim and work for the peace, stability, unity and progress of the country.
According to him, there is strong connection between peaceful coexistence of all tribes and religions and development.
He, therefore, urged every resident to live together peacefully.
”On behalf of my family and government of Lagos State, I join millions of people around the world to wish our Muslim brothers and sisters in the state and in Nigeria happy Eid-el-Kabir, which comes with significant lessons for mankind.
”Eid al-Adha has become a symbolic event in the history of mankind, following the events that led to the sacrifice by Prophet Ibrahim, who held tenaciously to his faith in God, despite his unpleasant circumstances at the time.
”The festival, therefore, reminds us that there will always be great rewards when we have abiding faith and patience in trying periods.
”The festival reminds us that there will always be great rewards in persistence in prayers and tenacity in our belief, as well as sacrifice for the progress of mankind and development of our society,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The governor urged residents to support his government’s efforts in building a ‘Greater Lagos’ that would work for all.
He also implored Nigerians to support governments at state and federal levels in building a better society that is free from violence, insecurity and other social vices.
