Few days to this year Ramadan the usual preparation ahead of religious obligation such as renovation of mosques, electrical gadgets for call to prayers, pre and Ramadan lectures, stocking homes with food stuffs have been missing among Muslim folks in Ondo State.

This is due to the lockdown occasioned by Covid-19 which has affected prices of goods and services.

Though markets in Akure the state capital opened partially, markets in Akokoland had become shadow of what they used to be with scanty number of people.

Prices of grains such as maize, millet beans and rice have gone up.

A resident, Hajia Nimotalahi Sarumi said a bowl of garri earlier sold for 1500 naira was now 3000 naira, a kongo of guinea corn rose from 250 naira to 350 with rice selling between 20,000 naira and 30,000naira per bag.

The chairman, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Akoko Northwest Local Government Area, Sheik Basiru Aminu reminded Muslims of the need to adhere strictly with the directive from Saudi Arabia and that of the Islamic leadership in Nigeria that faithful should stay at home for this year Ramadan prayers to check the spread of Covid-19.

Another Muslim cleric, the Chief Imam Zumurat Islamiyah Supare-Akoko, Sheik Amusa Lawal urged Muslims to abide by all the directives on personal hygiene before, during and after Ramadan.

He, however, asked the state government to grant Muslims the use of calls to prayers early in the mornings as reminder to the faithful otherwise many would sleep off.

The cleric called on all Muslims to dedicate the Ramadan to fervent prayers against coronavirus so that normalcy would return to the country.

Dupe Isename