How embargo on 2021 Hajj for Nigeria affects local prices of Sallah rams + dos and don’ts of COVID-19 For Abuja Muslims on Eid-el Kabir celebrations
60,000 Muslim faithful on Monday morning ascended the historic mount Arafat, peak of Hajj rites, amidst strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols.
Platforms Africa reports that only these numbers of pilgrims resident in Saudi Arabia were allowed for the exercise this year. Nigeria and other countries could not participate as Saudi embargoed the Hajj for them this year.
About 95,000 Nigerians were affected by this embargo.
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Our correspondent in Nigeria, Damilola Olonade, reports that this embargo has surged the number of Muslims who are to buy rams for Sallah thereby increasing the demand for the commodity (ram) in markets across the country.
Financial journalist, Adeola Yusuf, in a reaction to this established that an embargo placed on Hajj rites this year is one of the major variables for the price of rams that had hit the ceiling in the market.
“It is a triangle for the Sallah ram economy this year; the increase in number of ram-killing-aged Muslims around (out of Hajj this year), the surge in demand for rams and the hike in prices of rams as commodities in the market,” Adeola Yusuf said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory Administration has issued guidelines for the upcoming Eid-el Kabir celebrations.
This follows a meeting of the FCT Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) on COVID-19, chaired by the Minister of the FCT Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, on Friday, 16th of July 2021.
From its deliberations, the meeting noted the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country and the FCT and the possibility of a third wave and sought for ways to curtail its spread.
Thus, guided by the advice of the health professionals, the following guidelines are hereby issued for the upcoming Eid-El-Kabir celebrations in the FCT:
i. All Eid prayers in the FCT are to be held in the open spaces at Jumaat Mosques as well as the National Eid Ground. This is based on medical advice that it is safer to hold large gatherings in open air spaces than in enclosed structures;
ii. All open Eid grounds should have multiple entry and exit points with hand washing and temperature checking facilities;
iii. The holding capacity of Eid grounds should be reduced to 50% to ensure physical/social distancing;
iv. Imams should ensure that sermons are short so that the entire Eid prayers do not exceed one hour;
v. All parks and recreational grounds and facilities shall remain closed throughout the festive period, and
vi. Worshippers are enjoined to adhere to all prescribed non-pharmaceutical preventive measures of facial coverings, constant hand washing and physical distancing.
In attendance at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu, the Coordinator, WHO FCT Office, Dr Furera Zakari, the Ag Secretary, FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr Muhammed Kawu, the Chairman, FCT League of Imams Initiative, Dr Tajudeen M.B Adigun ,the Head of Media and Publicity , FCT Enforcement Task Team, Mr Ikharo Attah and other relevant officials of the FCTA, Anthony Ogunleye, Chief Press Secretary to the Minister says in a statement.
