Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

At that time tribute will be brought to the Lord of hosts from a people tall and smooth, from a people feared near and far, a nation mighty and conquering, whose land the rivers divide, to Mount Zion, the place of the name of the Lord of hosts (Isaiah 18:7)

At the heart of the Niger Delta is Yenagoa, the capital city of Bayelsa State. The Niger flows south and breaks into the Forcados and Nun rivers at the northernmost part of Bayelsa, an incredible masterpiece of nature. Aminu was waiting with his bike at the popular Ekeki junction. “Going”, that was the popular way of requesting the services of a commercial motorcycle. “Oga where you dey go?” (translated as Sir, where are you going?) said Aminu in Nigerian pidgin English. The journey to Azikoro, a satellite settlement to Yenagoa was fun but scary as Aminu raced in-between buses and articulated vehicles. “How long have you been here?” I questioned. “My grandfather came to Nembe when my father was still a young boy. They traded mostly in yam. I have lived here for thirty-three years while I have only been to my ancestral home twice in my entire life. The Ijaw people are friendly. We live together in peace. As you can see, those of us from the north are mostly the commercial bikers. They allow us practice our faith without any intimidation”. Aminu said.

Islam is growing in the Niger Delta not necessarily by Muslim Dawah or any organised group rather through migration and trading. In exploration of economic opportunities, Muslim traders and service renders from the north move down south where they carry out diverse trading as well as render services in cobbling, butchering, transport, water vendoring etc. From Swali market to Igbogene down to Mbiama, the northern Muslims have found abodes in the creek city. May they likewise find the streams of salvation.

Please Pray

• That the Church in Yenagoa and the Niger Delta as a whole will prioritise the need to reach out to the northern populace in the region with Christ’s love and the testimony of His saving power.
• For supernatural encounters for the Muslim populace in the city as well as in the Niger Delta region.
• Pray for gospel efforts, especially through radio ministry targeted at northern Muslims domiciled in the city, to receive God’s blessings

Lagos, Lagos State

“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” Proverbs 24:3-4 NIV

Lagos is a cosmopolitan and mega-city at the very heart of commerce, entertainment, technology, education, politics, tourism, art, and fashion with a significant influence in Africa. Lagos has the most populated and vibrant population in Nigeria with an estimated population of about 21 million persons in 2015. Its territorial extent and political jurisdiction cover an area of 358.862 hectares or 3,577sq.km which represents 0.4% of Nigeria’s territorial land mass; about 40% of the region is covered by water bodies and wetland. Lagos is the most populous urban area in Africa, and a former capital city of the nation. The city’s mainly Yoruba population has grown more heterogeneous with the migration of other Nigerians, West Africans and peoples from across the world to the city in search of economic opportunities and a better standard of living. An instance is the thriving and growing Lebanese and Arab communities in the city.

Commonly referred to as “Eko”, Lagos sees an influx of about 2000 persons into the city daily. Today, people from different religions and all walks of life make a home for themselves out of the city. This city is particularly strategic for missional engagement because in Lagos, you have a very high probability of finding people from all the 542 people groups and a significant population of known unreached people groups. According to extant political records, “Lagos is to the people of Nigeria what the head is to the body of an individual“. A fervent and earnest prayer for the city is sure to bring about a great revival among the various groups and affinities in the city which is in turn capable of being a catalyst for national revival.

Please pray

• Thank God for the strategic nature of the city and the opportunity it presents believers to share the gospel openly and boldly.
• Pray that the believers will rise up to their responsibility of preaching Christ with their lives and words.
• Pray for a great revival to burst from within the city to other cities in Nigeria and beyond.

Enugu, Enugu State

“In whose hand are the depths of the earth, The peaks of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for it was He who made it, And His hands formed the dry land.” Ps 95:4-5 NASU

Enugu, the capital city of Enugu State is situated inland in the southeastern region and is affectionately known as the “Coal City.” This city holds historical significance in Nigeria’s development, playing a pivotal role in the once-thriving coal mining industry.

Enugu is the dwelling place of the Igbo-speaking people, celebrated for their industrious spirit, entrepreneurial endeavours, resourcefulness, extensive travels, and warm hospitality. The city stands as a testament to the cultural richness of the Igbo community.

Beyond its historical contributions, Enugu serves as a hub for Nigeria’s renowned film industry, Nollywood. The city’s vibrant cultural scene extends to sports, arts, and a harmonious blend of traditional and modern attractions. With friendly locals and a lively nightlife, Enugu has evolved into a notable tourist destination in Nigeria.

Commerce and tourism increased the influx of Muslims into this iconic city. Migrants from the North found harbour in Enugu, being involved in various jobs. The city is predominantly a home to Christians. While there are few adherents of traditional religion, and people from Northern Nigeria practicing Islam. Notably, some indigenous residents have undergone religious conversions, embracing Islam due to various personal reasons.

Please Pray:

• Thank God for the neutrality this city provides in gospel engagement to those without the Gospel.
• Pray that believers will maximize the opportunity God has given them to reach their migrant neighbours.
• Pray for supernatural encounters and divine revelation of the person of Jesus to the increasing migrant population in Enugu.

Iwo, Osun State

“For if you embrace the truth, it will release true freedom into your lives.” John 8:32, TPT

“I am certain that you would get the stuff if you are able to make it in good time to Odo-ori market. It is not much of a distance from Osogbo”, said the kind man who met us while asking for the direction to Iwo. The journey began just after the driver murmured some words that I guessed to be prayers and then he rubbed his palms on his face. The fourteen-seater bus had a bold inscription on the rear glass: “Ayekooto” (meaning the world hates the truth).

One would probably think that the first Sharia court would have been situated in any of the core northern states of Nigeria. In actual fact, Iwo in present day Osun State, Nigeria, holds the record. Iwo also had the first mosque in Yorubaland serving the dual purpose of worship as well as Islamic education. “When we need further guidance on the teachings of the Prophet as contained in the Holy Book, we come down to Iwo, a town of Islamic heritage, blessed with revered scholars of the Muslim faith”, Alfa Abbas commented.

Call it the Medina of Islam in Southwest Nigeria and you would not be wrong; Iwo boasts of several Islamic landmarks. The people are naturally gifted in local trading and commerce. Meet two butchers from Southwest Nigeria, one of them is most predictably from Iwo. They excitedly represent the Muslim faith with either the trademark crescent and star designed taqiyah or with a long tasbih. Acknowledgedly, there has been significant gospel commitment and labours in the town. From the pioneering effort of Baptist missionaries to the Methodist and to current commitments to extending the blessings of redemption to the town dwellers. Today, as we pray for the town and its people, may the Lord reach out to many more bringing them unto Himself.

Please Pray

• Pray for access to the Truth for the people of Iwo.
• Ask the Lord to bring full conviction to many who are at the verge of making decision to accept Christ into their lives.
• Proclaim the freedom Jesus offers to everyone who is still living in bondage and in deception in the town.

Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20

Established in 1807 by Muhammadu Namoda, a military genius and prince of the Alibawa ruling family of Zurmi in the 18th century, Kaura Namoda has a rich historical background and has become a home to different ethnicities. Most of the town’s growth, however, is due to the arrival of the railway from Zaria in 1929. It is served by a station at the terminus of a branch line of the western line of the national railway network, a line proposed to be rehabilitated and extended to Niamey in Niger.

At the heart of Kaura Namoda is the Kaura Namoda Emirate, a testament to its cultural and historical significance. Notable landmarks in the area include the Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda. The city serves as a major collection point for peanuts and cotton, contributing to its economic importance. Additionally, millet, sorghum, cowpeas, rice, sugarcane, and tobacco are significant sources of income for the community.

Ethnically, Kaura Namoda is predominantly inhabited by the Hausa and Fulani groups, with the Hausa and Fulfulde languages commonly spoken in the region. The city embraces Islam as the widely practiced religion, although there is a minority Christian population. The city’s unique blend of tradition, commerce, and diverse communities presents a fascinating opportunity for fostering connection and advancing the gospel.

Please pray:

• Pray for mutual respect and understanding between the majority Muslim and minority Christian population, and that Christian students and business men in Kaura will be true ambassadors of the Kingdom.
• Pray for open doors of ministry for individuals and ministry to begin deliberate engagement efforts in this city.
• Lift up the economic activities in Kaura Namoda, praying for sustained growth, fair trade practices, and opportunities for all members of the community.

Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State

“You are like light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden, and no one would light a lamp and put it under a clay pot. A lamp is placed on a lampstand, where it can give light to everyone in the house. Make your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven.” Matt 5:14-16 CEV

The name “Ijebu-Ode” is a combination of the names of two persons namely, Ajebu and Olode who were conspicuous as leaders of the original settlers and founders of the town.

Imagine a bustling marketplace in the heart of Ijebu-Ode. The air is thick with the scent of spices and frying food, as traders hawk their wares and customers haggle over prices. This is the lifeblood of Ijebu-Ode, a city that has thrived on commerce for centuries. Its strategic location near the highway, just a comfortable journey of few hours by road from the bustling port city of Lagos and a short breeze away from the Atlantic Ocean, made Ijebu-Ode a natural crossroads for trade. People of different culture and religion flocked to Ijebu-Ode to exchange goods and strike deals. This legacy lives on today in the city’s vibrant markets, where you can find everything from colourful fabrics and handcrafted sculptures to delicious local delicacies like Ikokore, a rich stew made from water yam.

But Ijebu-Ode is more than just a market town. It’s a place where faith and commerce intertwine. The people of Ijebu-Ode are deeply religious, and their faith is evident in everything they do. From the towering ramparts of Sungbo Eredo, one of the largest man-made structures in West Africa, to the annual Ojude Oba festival. The echoes of harmonious calls to prayer from mosques at different corners in the city, to rhythms of hymns from churches, Ijebu-Ode’s spiritual tapestry is rich and complex. Over time, the influx of Muslim Northerners drawn by business opportunities in this commercial hub has added a new layer to Ijebu-Ode’s spiritual landscape. The peoples’s openness has become a beacon, fostering a growing community of Muslim faithfuls who coexist alongside their Christian counterparts.

Meet the Onasiles, a captivating family blend of four Muslims and three Christians. The man of the house, Alhaji Onasile faithfully attends the mosque, while his wife, a teacher is a dedicated member of a local church about 20miles to their home. Their five children, embodying the fusion of their parents’ beliefs- three Muslims and two Christians, mirrors the Ijebu-Ode’s larger reality.

Please Pray

• Pray that Christians in this city will shine as light and be beacons of hope to the lost.
• Pray for creative evangelistic strategies that resonate with the entrepreneurial spirit of Ijebu-Ode, integrating messages of faith with the city’s strong commercial foundation.
• Pray for a renewed sense of community spirit in Ijebu-Ode, where faith becomes a bridge between tradition and progress.

Maiduguri, Borno State

“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” Colossians 1:16, NIV

Under the scorching afternoon sun, Mallam B toiled all day. Navigating around the fast-growing city of Maiduguri to get the next meal for his large family of fifteen. With the gradual return of relative peace, there is a great struggle for the limited resources in the ancient city as hundreds like Mallam B adjust to life after the trauma of years of insurgency. More pathetic is the fact that Mallam B, like many others, are on their way to a Christless eternity.

Maiduguri was a military outpost of the British Empire during the colonial period. Today, it is estimated to have a population of approximately two million people. Its residents are mostly Muslim including Kanuri, Hausa, Shuwa, Bura, Marghi, and Fulani ethnic groups. There is also a considerable Christian population and are mainly indigenes of the southern part of the state or settlers from other states in the federation

Borno state, with Maiduguri as its capital, has had the highest casualties and losses from the Boko Haram insurgency which lasted for over a decade. This has brought about untold hardship, abject poverty and a low standard of living in the city. These years of insurgency described by the UN as the gravest humanitarian crisis of the 21 century is a testament to what man is capable of without the gospel. Maiduguri is in dire need of an army of radical intercessors who will commit to praying for the salvation of its people.

Please pray

• Praise God for the return of peace to the land after several years of unrest.
• Ask God to inspire compassion and a sense of responsibility among the believers towards their neighbours.
• Ask God to make the people more open and receptive to the gospel.

Auchi, Edo State

“One thing I have asked of the Lord and that I will seek. That I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty (the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the Lord and to meditate in His temple.” Psalm 27:4-5, Amplified Bible

 “I can’t imagine this beautiful edifice in Southern Nigeria”, said one of the co-travelers as we approached the Auchi – Ekpesa road. Momoh adjusted his jalabiya and said proudly “This is Arafat Mosque. It is built by the Muslim community of the town as a hallmark for Islamic worship. As you can see, it has got enough space both within and outside for worshipers to be comfortable while here for prayers. The flat land on the left axis is where the Eid prayers hold.” He added.

At the official commissioning of the Arafat Central Mosque two years ago, the Otaru of Auchi eulogised the holy sanctuary as being the opening chapter of the spiritual odyssey that brings about tranquility, progress, prosperity and help from Allah. The city and some of the adjoining communities have preserved Islam for many years with generations of adherents raised. Interestingly, Auchi hosts the single largest congregation of believers in Edo North. There is more to the odyssey emerging from this strategic geographical space. God is definitely up to something.

Please pray:

• Pray for the emergence of movements of obedient disciples and witnesses to the saving and transformative power of Calvary from Auchi to the rest of its surrounding communities and the entire South-south region of Nigeria.
• Pray that Muslims in Auchi and its environs will experience the peace found in Christ Jesus.
• Ask that influential Muslim religious leaders in the town will have irresistible encounter with the Lord.

Shafa’at: Standing in the Gap for the Seeds of Ishmael

And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you” (Genesis 17:18)

Ramadan is one of the pillars of Islam. It is a sacred time when Muslims devote themselves to God through fasting and denying themselves. God loves sincere seekers. He is ready to reveal Himself to those who will seek Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). The problem is not about the intention it is more about the means. That is where you and I come in.

Shafa’at in Arabic means to “intercede”. In Islamic context, it is used to mean when a saint or someone devoted to God pleads with Him on behalf of a sinner. The holy man makes intercession for the one that is weak so that through his own right standing with God, the unrighteous can be saved from eternal damnation.

As we identify with our Muslim brothers and sisters during the month of Ramadan, we invite you to consider the salvation that you have received by grace and through faith in Christ Jesus. Can the Lord thus depend on you to stand in the gap till every eye that looks to the star and the crescent come into relationship with the Man of Calvary? For the Lord desires that all men be saved. A vital role of making the desire of the Lord to come to pass is to be on bent knees till the ends of the earth is reached with salvation available only in Christ Jesus.

Beginning from our Jerusalem (Nigeria), we have prayerfully considered strategic towns and cities wherein we trust the Lord to send the Light. The Ramadan prayer guide also features strategic Islamic phenomenon. Play a crucial role in God’s global purpose. Stand in the gap and tarry till the seeds of Ishmael embrace the Light.

 

WHY PRAY THIS RAMADAN AGAIN?

The testimony of Mallam Fitoka (Not real name).

My journey from Islam to Christianity is a testament of the unwavering grace of God and the transformative power of His love. Born into a devout Muslim family, my upbringing was steeped in the rich traditions and teachings of Islam. The rituals, prayers, and community were integral parts of my identity.

As a Fulani, my life revolved around the care of my cattle, and my commitment to Islam was unwavering. One day, while tending to my cows, I heard a voice speaking to me, urging me to follow Christ. At first, I dismissed it as a figment of my imagination, but the encounters persisted. Jesus seemed to be reaching out to me, calling me to follow Him.

Despite these repeated encounters, I resisted the call for a long time. The voice continued to speak to me, revealing the love and salvation found in Jesus Christ. Finally, unable to bear the weight of the conviction any longer, I humbled myself and asked, “What should I do?” In that moment, the Lord directed me to seek out a Christian who could tell me more about Him.

Guided by this divine instruction, I approached a Christian in my village and shared my experiences. This encounter marked the beginning of a profound transformation in my life. The person I met not only shared the message of Christ with me but also became instrumental in leading me to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

Embracing Christianity wasn’t without its challenges. Persecution and opposition arose from my own community as I declared my decision to follow Jesus. Faced with hostility, I made the difficult choice to leave my village and seek refuge in a safer place. It was there that I found a community of believers who took me in, nurturing my newfound faith.

In this new environment, I was taught more about God, and I underwent a period of discipleship that deepened my understanding of the Christian faith. Today, as I reflect on my journey, I am filled with gratitude for the transformative power of God’s love. I am now a joyful believer in Christ, living a life redeemed and guided by His grace.

I want to express that the prayers of faithful individuals played a crucial role in bringing me to this point. I encourage Christians to pray fervently for Muslims, especially during this sacred Ramadan season, that hearts may be opened, and lives transformed by the love of Christ. I am a living testimony to the fact that no one is beyond the reach of God’s mercy and grace.   

 

Understanding Ramadan: A Brief Overview

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a period of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. This sacred month holds deep significance in Islam as it commemorates the revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad.

Fasting (Sawm): During the daylight hours of Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food, drink, smoking, and certain worldly pleasures as an act of self-discipline and spiritual purification. The pre-dawn meal, Suhoor, and the evening meal, Iftar, mark the beginning and end of each day’s fast.

Prayer (Salat) and Reflection: Muslims engage in increased prayers, including Tarawih, special nightly prayers during Ramadan. This month encourages a heightened focus on self-reflection, repentance, and drawing closer to God.

Charity (Zakat and Sadaqah): Ramadan emphasizes acts of charity and kindness. Muslims are encouraged to give to those in need, exemplifying compassion and generosity. The obligatory almsgiving, Zakat, and voluntary donations, Sadaqah, play a vital role in supporting the less privilege.

Eid al-Fitr: The culmination of Ramadan is celebrated with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, a day of joy, gratitude, and community. Muslims come together, break their fast, offer special prayers, and share meals with family and friends.

Unity and Spiritual Growth: Ramadan is a time for self-discipline, empathy, and spiritual growth. It fosters a sense of unity among Muslims worldwide, as they collectively engage in the activities and share the common experience of fasting and prayer.

Fasting from dawn to dusk, Ramadan is a chance for Muslims to grow closer to God and develop empathy for those less fortunate. As we join our Muslim neighbours in observing Ramadan, may our prayers reflect a spirit of understanding, love, shared humanity, and most importantly, a response to the Lord’s desire to receive worship from all peoples.

You can download the Prayer Diary here

Salam!