By Suleiman Yakubu

Fasting, which is the third pillar of Islam, begins with millions of Muslims around the world getting prepared to see that the Ramadan period, which is the prayer month, comes with less stress to enable them to fast without much problem.
Newsline Newspapers went around Minna town to hear public opinions on how they prepared for Ramadan.
Mohammed Jimma, a Barber; said that fasting has come and we have yet to prepare for it because we don't have money. Mohammed said everything in the market now is expensive, and the poor don't have the means to buy, but for as long as we are going to fast because of God, then God will not leave us He will surely provide us with what we will need and use throughout the Ramadan period.
He also said that although prayer is the paramount thing during the Ramadan period, we still need to eat to be able to worship properly. I have faith that God will make things easy for us.
Hajiya Fati Umar, a teacher, we don't have anything to be prepared for because it is a thing that we are used to, something that comes yearly.
Allah has made it easy for us, that is, you don't have to start frustrating yourself just to buy things that you cannot afford, all in the name of fasting. Just use the little you have, and God knows your intentions and conditions; he will not leave you in vain.
Hajiya Umar said don't bite more than you can chew; for me, I only depend on the few things I have on hand rather than building myself on credit. We should all be smart; if we cannot afford them now, we will afford them later.
Mal. Isah Jibril, an Islamic scholar, said Fasting is not all about eating and eating too many different kinds of food after breaking fast, as some people are taking it to be. He said fasting is an act of ibadah that makes us feel what the poor people are undergoing in terms of starvation and difficulties when it comes to feeding. He said that Allah wants us to feel pity for and sympathise with the needy to provide them with food and take care of their families.
The Islamic scholar said fasting during the month of Ramadan has many wonderful things in it that will clear your sin and get you closer to your creator. It is not about going out for shopping or stocking the house with food for the Ramadan period; it is not all about eating but to worship and assist the less privileged.
Musa Suleiman, civil servant, said it is Allah that has been providing for us whether during fasting period or not, and it is the same Allah that will still provide for us.
Musa said everything in the country is now expensive, so we have to manage anything we have at hand. I am really not preparing for anything because I don't have the money for the preparation, but God will make things easy for us.

By Suleiman Yakubu

As the year 2024 kicks out the bygone year 2023 with its storms of different calamities, frustrations, happiness, stress, hunger, failures, and many more that were associated with it, Newsline Newspapers went around Minna town to find out the expectations of the general public for the new year 2024, and here are the excerpts:
Alhaji Abubakar Magaji, a trader, said the year 2023 wasn't easy at all, but despite that, he thanked God for giving him the strength and good health to overcome all the calamities that it brought. “My prayers for the new year are that God should accept our prayers and make the year 2024 far better than 2023.
“Alhaji Abubakar said people are suffering, especially in terms of what to eat. May our leaders feel pity for us and make the new year a special one that everybody will enjoy to the last”, he said.
Mary Obonna, a businesswoman, said her new year resolutions are many, but it is only God who will make them reality for her.
Mary went on to say: “I want my business to prosper this year. I thank God, but there is still a long way to go because life now is far more expensive than it used to be.
“I wish to have my own apartment this year because house rents have tripled from what they used to be. These are a few of my new year resolutions, and I pray God should make it easy and possible for me within this year, 2024”.
Abdullahi Shehu, a motorist said: As a Muslim, I do my resolutions every day five times in a day. I tell God what I want and keep on reminding and thanking him from the beginning of the year until the end of the year. And that is what I always do, years in and years out”.
Shehu also said our leaders should please come to our aid because people are suffering. He added that they should give this year special attention that will put smiles on the common man's face.
Abdullahi also pointed out that “parents should please keep an eye on their children; they should monitor what the children are doing both at home and in school in order to prevent and protect them from joining bad groups”.
Usman Umar, a civil servant, said “my new year resolution is nothing more than praying to see that the new government has adjusted our pay package. We, the civil servants in Niger State, cannot afford to pay our children's school fees and, at the same time, eat two square meals, not three as it's meant to be.
“This year, I hope and pray that the Niger State Government should put the health sector in order for the masses to benefit and be able to pay for the services because people are suffering and dying for not being able to pay for hospital bills.
“Lastly, I pray God should see us through both Muslims and Christians with other religions we have and make things easy for us in 2024” he said.
Habiba Suleiman: graduate, said “year after year unemployment is increasing. I have been praying for the past five years for an appointment, but all in vain. So are other unemployed graduates within the nation, but I strongly believe God will make things easy for me this year 2024 and will give me different job opportunities that I have to choose for myself, not just anything that would be given to me.
“Also, our leaders should please do something about unemployed youths in 2024; it doesn't have to be office work; it can be skills acquisition in order to reduce the redundancy of our youths. They said an idle mind is the devil's workshop.
“Our leaders should please do something about unemployment this year to reduce crimes and increase job opportunities for youths in Nigeria in 2024”.