The Executive Governor of Zamfara State, North West Nigeria, Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, launched Tuesday the distribution of 182,000 bags of assorted food items to members of the public in the state, as part of his administration’s traditional annual gesture in the month of Ramadan.
The governor, who congratulated the Muslim faithful in the state and the entire Muslim Ummah for the fortune of being alive to witness another month of the Holy Ramadan, urged them to use the time for spiritual reawakening, charity, continuous recitation of the Holy Qur’an, and other spiritual acts that will bring them closer to Almighty Allah as well as renew their commitment in doing what is good throughout the period and beyond.
According to a statement by Director General, Media, Public Enlightenment and Communication in the state Government House, Malam Yusuf Idris Gusau, sent to The DEFENDER, Governor Matawalle, who is Shettima Sakkwarto, said his government had purchased a variety of food items for distribution to the people and that it had doubled the number of items distributed last year for Ramadan 1442.
“This is to ensure that people have enough food for the month of Ramadan and beyond,” the statement said, adding that it was customary to do this during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
The items distrubuted Tuesday included 60,000 bags of rice, 30,000 bags of sugar,50,000 bags of millet, 30,000 bags of maize, 10,000 bags of beans and 2,000 cartoons of milk.
Similarly, 40,000 pieces of shadda and atamfa clothing materials were purchased for distribution to the less fortunate in order for them to celebrate Idul-Fitri with a feeling of sense of belonging and ease.
The Shattiman Sakkwato announced that Ramadan feeding would be conducted across all the 2,516 polling units of the State and directed the Ministry for Local Government and Community Development to collaborate with the 14 Local Government Councils to establish additional feeding centres in each of the Councils.
He said in the case of civil servants. the Head of Service office has been directed to implement the procedures for distributing the packages to civil servants in an efficient and equitable manner.
For ease of distribution, the state government agencies that typically handle the process of targeting relevant beneficiaries have been delegated to carryout the exercise through the
Ministry for Religious Affairs, Zakat Distribution and Endowment Board and the Directorate of Protocol Matters.
While praying to Allah SWA to accept our Ibaadat, the governor called on the well-to-do individuals, groups and organizations to also complement the state government’s efforts in bringing succour to the needy.
Earlier in a welcome address, state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Tukur Maikatako said the commodities were provided to the glory of Allah and not as a source of bragging but to help the needy.
The PDP chairman also pointed out that the welfare was purchased by the government and not part of the federal government COVID-19 parliatives.
Maikatako said unlike other politicians who deceptively shared Covid-19 parliatives in the name of Ramadan welfara which they earlier hoarded as their own way of supporting the people, the one by the Zamfara State Government was well intended.
Also in his vote of thanks, the Chairman of the state’s Zakkat and Endowment Board, Prof. Kabiru Jabaka assured that the gesture will reach all households of the state.
The DEFENDER
