Michael Olugbode, Alex Enumah in Abuja and Sunday Ehigiator in Lagos

A civil rights group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has described as unconstitutional, discriminatory and insensitive, the closure of educational institutions in some northern states for a month in commemoration of the Muslim Ramadan period.

HURIWA said it was unjust to close down schools just for Muslim fasting whereas Catholic Christians also fast for 40 days and no state government in any of the Christian dominated states had ordered the closure of public and private schools for the 40 days fasting period of Christians.

ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) also asked the governments of the four northern states of Bauchi, Katsina, Kano, and Kebbi to desist from trying to be holier Muslims than the custodians of Islam, the Arabs.

Nevertheless, a northern group, Arewa Think Tank (ATT), commended President Bola Tinubu for the decrease in food prices during Ramadan.

ATT pleaded with Nigerians to keep patronising made in Nigeria products and services to further strengthen the naira against the dollar.

HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said it was despicable for the educational rights of citizens to be violated for the Ramadan fast, which was a religious practice of some citizens. It pointed out that even in well-known Muslim nations in the Middle East, schools were not disrupted because of the Ramadan fast. It warned against politicisation of religion in Nigeria.

ActionAid Nigeria, in a statement by Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, said the abrupt closure of schools not only hampered the educational advancement of students but also adversely affected teachers and staff who rely on their salaries for sustenance.

Mamedu, while expressing deep concern over the recent directives by the governments of Bauchi, Katsina, Kano, and Kebbi states to close all educational institutions for up to five weeks during the holy month of Ramadan, stated that this decision affected millions of students and educators, disrupting academic progress and livelihoods.

“In a region already grappling with high rates of out-of-school children averaging 44 per cent, significantly above the national average, such prolonged closures exacerbate existing educational challenges,” it said.

However, according to a statement by Chief Convener of Arewa Think Tank, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, the group stated that food prices had dropped slightly, making food more affordable this Ramadan compared to previous seasons.

The group stated that prices of food items had decreased drastically in some areas and marginally in others, highlighting the reduction in fuel prices, with petrol refined in Nigeria now costing between N825 and N865, making it cheaper than imported fuel.

The group said, “This is happening, and nobody is praising Tinubu. But if the prices are going up, people will be hitting the roof top to condemn Mr. President.

“For the first time in the history of this country, prices of food stuff are coming down, but people who are supposed to praise him are not praising him.”