Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle of Zamfara State has launched the distribution of over 182,000 bags of assorted food items to members of the public in Zamfara 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 us closer to Almighty Allah as well as renew their commitment in doing what is good throughout the period and beyond.
He said, as is customary during the Holy Month of Ramadan, the government has purchased a variety of food items for distribution to the people and has doubled the number of items distributed last year for Ramadan to 1442. This is to ensure that people have enough food for the month of Ramadan and beyond.
The items include 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.
