Begging not part of Islam – Babangida Aliyu
Former Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has called upon Muslims to be self reliant and fight begging saying it is against Islam.
Dr. Aliyu made the remark on Wednesday while delivering a paper titled: “Promoting Self Reliance through Sustainable Trade, Commerce and Agriculture for Human Development” at JIBWIS annual convention, in Abuja.
According to him, Islam frowns at begging and dependence on other people.
“We may appreciate how Islam vehemently frowns at begging and dependence on other people. Begging is so antithetical to Islam that even ‘Mallams’are enjoined to have a trade, to be involved in commerce or agriculture so that they may feed themselves and not rely on exploiting the ignorance of other Muslims”.
He said for any country to effectively promote self-reliance through sustainable trade, commerce and agriculture for its development it must have data research and development.
He emphasized that the country should know its deficit and comparative advantages in order to plan, curb corruption and minimize wastages.
Aliyu further emphasized that Nigeria’s failure in developing agriculture properly was not just as a result of discovering crude oil or lack initiative, policies and programs.
But according to him there were many policies and programs like the provision of extension service, farm settlement schemes and import substitution policy among others.