By Ado Hassan, Sokoto
Sokoto state government says it has spent over N2.7bn through the state Zakkat and Endowment Commission for various empowerment activities in the last three years.
Speaking in Sokoto Monday at the flag off of the distribution of 9,100 bags of assorted grains, bicycles, Shadda and textile materials to the less privilege, destitutes and other categories of needy personsa in 86 Dstricts across 23LGs in the state, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said the gesture was part of efforts of the government to sustain its empowerment programmes for the people of the state.
He pointed out that the period of ramadan was for devotion, good deeds, tolerance and charity to the needy.
According to Tambuwal,” the move is also to ensure their welfare and promote self reliance among them.
” We are mindful of their social and economic needs. They need such support to build their capacity for prosperity”, he said.
The governor stated that his administration was committed to the provision of basic amenities and infrastructure to better the living and comfort o people of the state.
He commended the SOZECOM for its steadfastness in generating and distributing Zakkat(alms) to deserving categories of people.
” Is our duty to commit state resources for the benefit of humanity and we therefore, urge all and sundry to support and extend the necessary cooperation to the state government to do more.”
Also, the state Zakkat and Endowment Commission Chairman, Mallam Lawal Maidoki said the activities of the commission had been. strengthened for the benefit of needy persons.
Maidoki said over 7,000 persons had benefited from a total of N1.630 bn paid as monthly allowance in the last two years.
” Each month we pay N48.8m as allowance to destitutes and less privilege.
“ We have provided health and welfare services to 100 patents including 29,000 mentally derailed and empowered 16, 000.
” This is the only state that runs and sustains this kind of programme in Nigeria”, he pointed out.
The Commission’s chairman further said the essence was to ensure the welfare of orphans, less privileged and destitute individuals as empowerment drive.
” We are distributing 172 bicycles to male and female orphans across the 23 local governments.
In his goodwill message, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar emphasised the need to strengthen the hope of less privileged persons, orphans and destitutes through kindness and economic support.
He noted that there were quite a large number of the population currently in need of support to be self reliant.
According to the revered leader who was represented by Wazirin Sokoto, Professor Sambo Wali Junaid urged wealthy individuals to support the state government through such gestures and other philantrophic activities inorder to ameliorate the sufferings and economic needs of the down troden.
The state Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Hon. Abdullahi Maigwandu said the 2018 ramadan feeding activities had been reviewed upward to gulp N300 million through out the period.
According to Maigwandu” we have earmarked and located 111 feeding centres across the state metropolis and environs at the feeding cost of N10m daily”, he said.
