By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja
Residents of Lokoja kogi state state, most especially the muslim faithful undergoing 30-day fasting, have been thrown into dire need of orange as the fasting entered the second day on Wednesday, The Reporters reports.
Our correspondent who went places where such fruit was usually displayed for sale; such as new, old markets, post office, near radio kogi,phase I mini market and Ganaja junction, reports that orange was conspicuously absent.
Some of the sellers, such as Malam Abdulkarim Mumuni, Isah Mohammed and Idris Usman, expressed shock over the development, saying they could provide answer as to the causes of the scarcity of the fruit.
Investigation by our Correspondent showed that many buyers, especially the muslim faithful, have shifted their demand to other fruits such as banana, water melon, debino(dates) and pineapple, to be used in breaking fast.
Some muslim interviewed by our Correspondent described the scarcity of orange as a wrong development as the wrong time.
“Consumption of orange is very important to public health at this point in time in Lokoja known for excessive heat and particularly for the muslim community fasting and need the fruit as part of breaking fast in the evening,” Alhaji Ibrahim Nuhu, said.
Besides its immense importance to Muslims at this point in time, health experts describe orange as among the world’s most popular fruits in terms of tast and nutrition.
According to them, the fruit is a good source of vitamin C, as well as several other vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and capable of lowering peoples risk of heart disease and kidney stones among others.
