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Fuel Hike Dampens Eid Spirit in Mararaba

Published

6 months ago

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

In the bustling heart of Mararaba, a satellite town known for its relentless energy, the usual pre-festival buzz is unusually subdued. With just days to go until Eid-el-Fitr, the air is thick not only with dust from the busy streets but also with a palpable sense of anxiety. The holy month of Ramadan, already a period of sacrifice for many Muslims struggling with the country’s economic hardship, has been made even more challenging by a recent and significant hike in fuel prices. The celebration that marks the end of fasting—a time for joy, new clothes, and communal feasting—now looms as a day of difficult choices for many residents.

On a street lined with small shops and busy pedestrians, our correspondent spoke to five Muslim residents to understand how they plan to navigate this celebration amidst mounting hardship.

For Aliyu Mohammed, a taxi driver, the fuel hike has directly slashed his earnings, forcing him to redraw his Eid budget entirely.
“Before now, it was tough, but we were managing,” Mohammed said, leaning against the bonnet of his taxi. “But this fuel price increase has finished our little remaining strength. I spend almost everything I make on fuel, leaving nothing for my family. For Eid, I had hoped to buy new clothes for my three children, but now I will be lucky if we can afford a good meal of rice and chicken. The celebration will be just in prayers. The joy is gone from it.”

A few meters away, Aisha Garba, a mother of four and food vendor, expressed her worries about the rising cost of food items. Her small business, which usually thrives in the week leading up to Eid, is struggling.
“People are not buying food like they used to,” she explained, stirring a large pot of stew. “The money they have is for transport to their villages or for small essentials. For my own family, Eid will be very simple. I planned to prepare traditional dishes like Masa and Taushe, but the price of rice, oil, and even sugar has gone up since the fuel hike. Everything is transported by road, so prices must rise. We will cook what we can afford and be grateful to Allah for seeing us through Ramadan. There will be no new furniture or special treats for the children.”

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For young men like Ibrahim Sani, the prospect of Eid is a painful reminder of his circumstances. He spends his days helping out at a friend’s phone-charging kiosk.
“Eid is supposed to be a reward after a month of patience,” Sani said, his voice low. “But what reward is there when you can’t even afford henna for your hands or a new pair of slippers? I cannot travel to see my family in Kano because transport fares have doubled. I will attend the Eid prayer at the central mosque and then probably spend the rest of the day here in Mararaba. The feeling is one of deep sadness. We are being squeezed from all sides.”

The hike has also affected community dynamics. Malam Yusuf Idris, a tailor, has seen a sharp decline in customers bringing fabric for Eid outfits. His shop, once a hub of activity, is quiet.
“This is usually my busiest time of the year,” Idris said, his measuring tape hanging idly around his neck. “But this year, people come, they ask for the price, and they leave. They can no longer afford to sew new clothes. I have also had to increase my prices because thread and other materials cost more now due to transport. It is a cycle. I fear many children in this neighborhood will go to the prayer ground in old clothes on Eid day. We will still celebrate, but the spirit is broken by this hardship.”

Yet, amidst the despair, there is a resilient focus on the spiritual core of the festival. Hajiya Fatima Abdullahi, a grandmother and respected elder in the community, embodies this quiet fortitude.
“The essence of Eid is not in new clothes or lavish food,” she said, sitting on a mat in front of her home. “Yes, the hardship is great. The fuel price has made everything more difficult for my children and neighbors. But we are Muslims. We have spent the last 30 days learning patience and gratitude. We will give our Zakat-ul-Fitr (obligatory charity) so that even the poorest can join in the celebration. On that day, we will put on our best clean clothes, even if they are old. We will go to the mosque to thank Allah for giving us the strength to fast. The celebration is in our hearts and in our prayers. We will not let hardship steal our faith.”

As the sun sets over Mararaba, the stories from the street paint a clear picture. The Eid-el-Fitr celebration this year will go ahead, but it will be a more somber, introspective affair. The double blow of persistent hardship and a fresh fuel hike has forced families to strip the festival down to its bare essentials: prayer, charity, and quiet gratitude for survival—leaving the traditional trappings of joy as an unaffordable luxury for many.

 

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Ex-UK PM Boris Johnson Narrowly Escapes as Russian Drone Hits Warsaw-bound Train

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1 hour ago

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September 14, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Ukrainian and Polish governments have accused Russia of launching drone strikes on the locomotive of a passenger train carrying 206 people headed for Warsaw on Sunday morning.

Ukraine said it forewarned the railway operators of likely drone strikes, adding that no one was hurt.

“The monitoring team gave the train crew advanced warning, and thanks to that, no one was injured,” Ukrainian railway operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, wrote in social media.

Ukrzaliznytsia said that a diplomatic train conveying VIPs such as a former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson; ex-CIA chief, David Petraeus, passed through the Yagodyn station shortly before the drone strike.

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“Shortly before the locomotive was hit at the Ukrainian-Polish border, a diplomatic train was at Yagodyn station,” Ukrzaliznytsia said. “There were, among others, security advisers from several EU member states and former European leaders on board, including former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. In another train that was at Yagodyn station at the very moment of the attack was former CIA Director David Petraeus.”

The Warsaw-bound train was carrying 206 people, none of whom were Polish citizens.

Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski described the incident as an escalation.

“This is an escalation, this is another great challenge for Ukraine and for the hypothetical future victims of Russian aggression and this means that we should double our efforts to support victims of aggression,” Mr Sikorski said at a press briefing.

The train was transporting 206 individuals and there was no Polish citizen among

“The train is carrying 206 people. There are no Polish citizens among the passengers,” the operator said online. “After completing customs clearance, it will continue its journey towards Warsaw.”

The former UK leader advocated Russia’s frozen funds in Belgium to be transferred to Ukraine.

“I don’t know what warped logic drove Putin to blow up a stationary Ukrainian locomotive on the Polish border this morning,” Mr Johnson said. “When are we going to give them the air defences they need? Why won’t we unfreeze Putin’s cash and give it to Ukraine? There is more than €140 billion ($163 billion) in a Belgian bank account — and about £10 billion (€11.7 billion or 13.5 billion) in London.”

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KANSIEC Chairman Advises Fruits Sellers Association to Modernize Business

Published

2 days ago

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September 12, 2026

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The Fruits Sellers Association, Kano State Chapter, has been advised to develop a strategic plan within a specific timeframe to modernize its business operations.

The Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC, Professor Sani Lawal Malumfashi, gave the advice during a courtesy visit by members of the association to his office.

Professor Malumfashi stated that the fruit business anywhere in the world serves customers from all backgrounds, both rich and poor, due to the importance of fruits in food consumption.

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He maintained that the association should seek recognition across the three tiers of government in order to benefit from government policies and programmes.

The KANSIEC Chairman added that the present administration under the Executive Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, is transforming Kano into a modern metropolitan city with many parks. He said fruit sellers should secure designated spaces around the corners of flyovers across the city.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Fruits Sellers Association of Nigeria, Kano State Chapter, Alhaji Safiyanu Abdullahi, said they visited KANSIEC to seek guidance on how to conduct free, fair, and peaceful elections within the association.

Bashir Habib Yahya
Media Aide to the KANSIEC Chairman
Date: 11/09/2026

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Breaking :Former PDP National Chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur Is Dead

Published

2 days ago

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September 12, 2026

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Former Chairman of the peoples Democratic party during Jonathan’s administration Alhaji Bamanga Tukur is dead .

A credible source in Yola the capital of Adamawa state informed Nigerian Tracker that Alhaji Bamanga Tukur passes on in Abuja.

The source said his body will later be conveyed to Yola the capital of Adamawa state for funeral at the palace of Lamidon Adamawa Alhaji Muhammad Barkindo .

 

Alhaji Dr. Bamanga Mahmud Tukur (CON) was a prominent Nigerian politician, businessman, administrator, and elder statesman who has had a towering impact on Nigeria’s socio-political and economic sectors for over six decades.

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He was widely recognized for his roles as the former Governor of the old Gongola State, the former Minister of Industries, and the former National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Early Life and EducationDate of Birth: Born on 15 September 1935 in what is today Adamawa State, Nigeria.

Higher Education: He obtained a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree from the University of Pittsburgh in the United States.

Honorary Recognition: He was awarded an honorary Doctorate Degree in Law (Honoris Causa) by Benue State University in Makurdi, Nigeria.

Traditional Titles: Reflecting his high regional and cultural status, he holds the distinguished traditional titles of Tafidan Adamawa and Wakilin Ganye in Adamawa State.

Career in Public Service & Governance
Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA):
Served as General Manager/Chief Executive from 1975 to 1982, managing port congestion and modernizing seaports.

Governor of Old Gongola State: Elected during the Second Republic in 1982, serving a brief term before the December 1983 military coup.

Minister for Industries: Served under General Sani Abacha’s military administration from 1993 to 1995.

Business and Continental Leadership Founder of BHI Holdings (Daddo Group),

Tukur expanded his economic influence across Africa:

Africa Business Roundtable (ABR): Founder, past president, and Life Patron.

NEPAD Business Group: Elected Chairman in March 2002.

International Maritime Stature: First African Vice President of the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH)

PDP National Chairmanship (2012–2014)Elected PDP National Chairman in March 2012.

 

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