Since the Nigerian federal government declared that the Eid-el -Kabir festive season will start tomorrow, Saturday, July 9, Muslims around the country have spent most of Friday preparing for the celebration.

During Eid-el-Kabir, Muslims are required to rededicate themselves to the cause of mankind, appreciate the gift of life and be tolerant and understanding towards others.

As the preparations kicked off for this year’s Eid, RNI visited sites in Maiduguri and Damboa.

Fanna Usman, RNI’s reporter in Damboa, said preparations were ongoing, even though most of the residents were having a tough time just making a living. Many were not even employed.

Ba Bour, a resident, said: “This year’s Eid has arrived at an awfully tough time for us. I have not been able to make any preparations because I do not have any money. I could not even afford to buy a ram. My family, wives and children have made things more difficult. They do not understand my situation and keep demanding that I provide them with new clothes for the celebration. It’s disturbing because the previous year I made preparations in advance, but the prices of food and livestock have spiked and I do not have enough money.

“We will attend the Eid prayers – but we have nothing with which to celebrate the occasion.”

In Maiduguri, RNI reporter Nana Hadiza Mustapha said displaced persons were facing a “livelihood crisis” but that would not stop women and girls trying to beautify themselves for the celebration.

She visited the Kawar Maila IDP Camp where Ba’ana Bukar told her: “I don’t have new clothes to wear but as you can see I have painted my hands and feet with traditional henna. I will not allow my poor situation to stop me from beautifying myself for the occasion.”

Mairam Umar said: “My parents could not afford to buy us a ram or new clothes. But I have put the plaits in my hair into tiny braids and I have helped my two little sisters to do the same. We just have to be happy even though some of the other girls have new clothes and are happier than us.”

RNI reporter Ummi Fatima Baba Kyari said measures had been put in place to secure residents during the celebration period.

Bukar Shettima, a Civilian Joint Task Force member in Maiduguri, said: “Security measures are in place. We have assigned 220 men to various Eid grounds across the state capital.

“Movement of vehicles will be restricted from 6am to 10am when Eid prayers will be observed. We are doing this to secure the lives of people against any sort of insecurity that might occur.”

Shettima called on all residents to comply with security personnel.

Mallam Abubakar Bukar, a religious scholar in Maiduguri, said the Eid prayer was paramount to observe. But he said parents should keep an eye on their children so that they did not go missing. He said this had often happened on previous occasions because the parents were not watchful and were not paying attention.

“Eid is observed by all kinds of people, young and old, but parents do not always pay attention to their children and they can easily go missing or get lost during the prayers. I urge mothers, particularly, to pay attention to their children’s whereabouts.

“There are usually many people on the Eid grounds and we often find children who have been separated from their parents. They stand there among all these adult strangers and cry and cry. It is not always easy to find the parents in the crowd.”

Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, enjoined Muslims to pray fervently for God’s intervention in the calamities bedevilling Nigeria.

In a statement issued on his behalf by Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, the secretary-general of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, he said Muslims should humble themselves before God to help end the country’s challenges.

He called on Muslims to “fervently supplicate to Allah for His intervention”.

“He [the sultan] implores us all to dedicate special prayers against all the menaces and the hydra-headed calamities [of insecurity, poverty, the high cost of living and corruption] occurring in Nigeria,” the statement said.

The sultan noted that with the 2023 general elections fast approaching, Muslims “need to also seek Allah’s apt intervention for stability, security, peace and development”.

He said all faithful Muslims should submit to Allah to restore peace and order.

“We reiterate that the need for fervent prayer for peaceful and smooth political transition and an end to the varied socioeconomic challenges is ardently necessary,” the statement said.

Rauf Aregbesola, the minister of interior, said the federal government had declared Monday and Tuesday, July 11 and 12, as public holidays to mark the celebration.

He called on Muslims to continue “to imbibe the spirit of love, peace, kindness and sacrifice, as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad and to use the period to pray for peace, unity, prosperity and the stability of the country, particularly the challenges of insecurity.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari was “committed to the security of lives and properties of all Nigerians”.

But he urged Nigerians to report any “suspicious individuals and criminal activities they observed around them to law enforcement agencies” and to be vigilant and observant of intruders in their communities.

He said everyone was responsible for the security of lives and property.

AISHA SD JAMAL