The Sokoto State Government has earmarked N56.7 million to buy food and clothing materials for indigent persons during the Ramadan, an official said on Saturday.
Alhaji Lawal Maidoki, the Chairman of Sokoto State Zakkat and Endowment Committee, made the plan known in Sokoto.
Maidoki said the items included 6,300 bags of grains and 6,420 clothing materials, adding that the grains, namely millet, maize and guinea-corn, would cost N 50.4 million.
“No fewer than 6,300 indigent persons, both men and women, including widows and widowers, would benefit from the annual gesture by the state government.
“Gov. Aliyu Wamakko has also approved an additional N31.5 million for the donation of N5,000 to each of the beneficiaries for transportation and other logistics.
“The beneficiaries will be drawn from the 63 districts of the 23 local government areas of the state. The gesture is as usual, aimed at enabling them to break their fasts with relative ease,’’ Maidoki said.
He said 6,420 orphans selected from the 63 districts would get 6,420 pieces of cloths worth N6.3 million for the Sallah celebrations.
Maidoki commended Wamakko for sustaining the annual gesture to the poor, considering that they were also members of the society.
Meanwhile, the chairman condemned the preponderance of street beggars in the state in spite of the payment of N6,500 each to 6,923 physically challenged persons monthly by the state government.
“The state government spends N45 million in this direction and unfortunately beggars are daily dotting the streets of Sokoto and its environs.
“Begging is not allowed by Islam. Even if one is in serious need or a problem, he or she is allowed to seek for help only to solve that particular problem.
“Commercialising begging or turning it into a business venture is abhorred by Islam and nobody should engage in it,” Maidoki said.
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