President Bola Tinubu has asked the Muslims in the country to use the Ramadan fasting season to pray for Nigeria’s growth and development.

In a statement on Friday, Tinubu said the Ramadan season “coincides with a period of renewed hope and progress for our nation”.

The president said his administration policies have started yielding “positive results,” noting that the country is witnessing “gradual stabilisation”.

Tinubu added that the foreign exchange rate has started “stabilising” and prices of food items are “now downward”.

“This year’s Ramadan holds special significance as it coincides with a period of renewed hope and progress for our nation,” the statement reads.

“Our administration’s bold and transformative policies are beginning to yield positive results, as evidenced by the gradual stabilisation of our economy.

“The Gross Domestic Product for the last quarter of 2024 showed a marked improvement over the same period in 2023.

“The once-soaring prices of essential food items are now downward, providing much-needed relief to our fasting population and all Nigerians. The exchange rate is stabilising, and fuel prices are declining, signalling a brighter future.

“As the wet season approaches, we remain steadfast in boosting agricultural productivity.

“We are determined to enhance food production and ensure self-sufficiency and food security for all Nigerians through targeted input support, mechanisation, and innovative farming initiatives.

“In this sacred month, I call on all Nigerians to join hands in prayer and action for our beloved country’s continued growth and development.

“Let us fervently seek Allah’s guidance and protection for our nation, and let our words and deeds reflect our shared commitment to peace, unity, and progress.”

Ramadan is a significant month in Islam, during which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk.

The Ramadan fasting period in Nigeria lasts 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the moon, as per the Islamic lunar calendar.

Some minutes ago, Muhammad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto, announced the sighting of the crescent moon for the commencement of Ramadan fasting on Saturday.

Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory, has stated that she has no knowledge of the alleged sexual harassment of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday, Kingibe dismissed claims that Akpoti-Uduaghan had been isolated by female senators, revealing that she had, in fact, received more privileges than her female colleagues.

“The three of us [female senators] have not been sexually harassed. That’s not to say if Senator Natasha can prove that she has been, we won’t support her. But she has never discussed it with us, and we don’t know about it,” Kingibe stated.

She added that Akpoti-Uduaghan had been given preferential treatment regarding seating arrangements, noting that other female senators, including herself, had been moved multiple times.

Kingibe further explained that she was hospitalized on the day of the alleged incident and only learned of the controversy afterward. She attempted to contact Akpoti-Uduaghan for clarification but received no response.

“I promptly called her and asked what was going on. She started explaining about seating arrangements but didn’t finish before saying she’d call me back. Till today, she has not called me back,” Kingibe revealed.

Her efforts to reach Akpoti-Uduaghan’s husband also proved unfruitful, as he informed her that his wife was in Singapore at the time.

While acknowledging that the Senate still has gender-related challenges, Kingibe noted that progress has been made in improving the treatment of female lawmakers.

“Yes, the Senate is not gender-friendly, but it has improved. When we raise concerns, the Senate President takes steps to address them,” she said.

She, however, cautioned that internal disputes, particularly those concerning seating arrangements, could harm public perception of the Senate, urging lawmakers to handle disagreements more constructively.