ABSTRACT

Suffering and poverty are inseparable and does not exclude anyone since both the righteous and the unrighteous suffer. Some people have the notion that if one suffers, it is because such a person is not religious enough or he/she has committed sin, on the contrary however, findings prove otherwise because whether one is a devout religious adherent of Christianity or Islam or any religion for that matter, suffering does not consider one's religiosity, hence, both Christians and Muslims suffer. The study revealed specific areas that Christians and Muslims in Abuja FCT, Nigeria undergo suffering. This is against the background that suffering is inevitable as long as human beings exist on this planet earth. Suffering however, is also unique due to different human circumstances, hence, the need to investigate how Christians and Muslims suffer as a result of poverty in Abuja FCT, which is believed to be where rich people live because it is the seat of political and economic power house of the country. The researchers used interviews and observation methods of data collection in which the adherents of Christianity and Islam in Abuja city were interviewed. The study found out that poverty is a cause of suffering because both the righteous and unrighteous experience poverty in addition to suffering from the demolition of properties due to the zeal to adhere to new Abuja Master Plan policy, the effect of covid19 pandemic, poverty and unemployment (arbeit loss); among others.