RAMADAN: SANWO-OLU CALLS FOR PRAYERS TO OVERCOME NIGERIA’S ECONOMIC CHALLENGES
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Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has urged Muslims in the country to use the Ramadan period to pray for the nation to overcome the present economic challenges.
The Governor made the call today while speaking at the Annual Ramadan Lecture 1445AH/2024 of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Council held at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented at the event by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat added that at a time like this when the country is going through economic challenges and hardship, the citizens need prayers to assist leaders in making the right decisions that will lead the country on the right path to national growth and economic recovery.
He emphasised that no one will seek elective posts to fail but they are overwhelmed by the various challenges and pressures of office. The Governor, therefore, stressed the need for prayers by Nigerians to assist the leaders in overcoming various obstacles and present economic challenges and hardships facing the country.
Sanwo-Olu said, “Nobody will contest for a position of authority to fail. They are overwhelmed with the challenges and pressure of office. So, there is a need for us to use this period of Ramadan to pray to Allah to prevent them from derailing their promises”.
Commenting further on the present hardship in the country, Sanwo-Olu enjoined Nigerians to be their brothers’ and sisters’ keepers during and after Ramadan.
He added that as a government, his administration has initiated various programmes to ameliorate the hardship faced by citizens in the state. According to him, “We have initiated the Lagos Food Market across the 57 Local Government Areas/Local Council Development Areas in the State, where citizens can get food items at discounted rates.
He said food items like Rice, Beans, Bread, Garri, Eggs, Tomatoes, and Pepper among others will be sold at a 25% discount to residents starting today, Sunday, 17th March 2024 at designated areas across the state. This, according to him, is the government’s way of reducing the huge cost of getting foodstuff.
He also disclosed that the state government has concluded plans to feed one million less privileged residents across the state free of charge using some selected “Mama Put Food Joints” across the state.
Equally and in order to attend to citizens’ medical needs, the state government, through the six newly created Health Districts across the state, will hold medical outreach where citizens will be attended to and given free drugs particularly those with diseases like High Blood Pressure, Diabetes and others.
The Governor, therefore, urged all citizens to take full advantage of all these initiatives by the government for their own good and not to resell them.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman, Lagos State Council of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Alhaji Abdur Rahman Olabode Salaudeen, who was represented by the Vice Chairman, Alhaji (Dr.) Hassan Alao, charged Muslims to take advantage of the month of Ramadan to observe all that Allah enjoined them to do and abstain from what Allah forbids as well as extend hands of succour and assistance to the needy, poor and the less privileged around them.
He added that the society would continue to register its presence in the distribution of welfare packages in her bid to alleviate the sufferings faced by the less privileged in society. He charged all to be their brothers’ and sisters’ keepers in the face of the present economic challenges.
The Chairman further stressed that the society remains committed to making people see the beauty of Islam, revitalise the high values the religion teaches and always embark on many life-changing programmes and activities that will make Muslims and non-Muslims see Islam as a religion of peace, love and unity.
In his lecture, titled: “What Does He Want from Me”, the Guest Lecturer/National Missioner Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria and Overseas, Sheikh Abdur’Rahman Olanrewaju Ahmad said Ramadan is a month in which Muslims are expected to increase their worship and efforts to get closer to Allah. He added that they are expected to be of more service to their fellow human beings. It is a period they are reminded of their duties to their God and fellow human beings.
He stated that what Allah wants from mankind, particularly Muslims is to be closer to Him, love and worship Him as well as do away with anything that Allah has warned them against.
Commenting on the present hardship in the country, the Cleric said tough times don’t last forever only tough people do. He, therefore, charged Nigerians to be more conscious of Allah and be just to themselves as the issue is not peculiar to Nigeria, but a global phenomenon.
In their goodwill messages, former Minister for Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola; National President of the Ansar-Ud-Deen, Alhaji (Aare) Rafiu Ademola Sanni and the Chairman of the occasion, AVM (Dr.) Sikiru Oladimeji Smith urged Muslims to seize the opportunity of Ramadan to pray for Nigeria and remember to assist the less privileged in their communities particularly at this hard time, as the month of Ramadan is one of giving.
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