Mustapha Isah Kwaru
28 September 2008
Maiduguri — Thousands of less privileged Muslims in Borno state who have been the beneficiaries of free breakfast meal being offered by the state government since the beginning of the Ramadan have started missing the month as its end brings the gesture to an end.
The feeding programme which offers varieties of food every evening to the Muslims is expected to end today when the new moon of Shawwal is sighted.
A cross-section of the less privileged individuals in Maiduguri has therefore called on Governor Ali Sheriff to sustain the scheme after the holy month.
Mallam Hassan Lawal, one of the beneficiaries, noted that the scheme had demonstrated the government's concern for the needy, but observed that if the scheme was suspended after the fasting period, thousands of people would be thrown into difficulties.
"The government deserves commendation for introducing this exemplary programme which minimises the suffering of the poor, we pray to Almighty God to reward those behind it.
But the government should realize that it is not only during fasting period that the less privileged need assistance," he observed.
Mustapha Shettima, one of the needy, suggested that the government should establish an agency that would be saddled with the responsibility of feeding the less privileged even after the fasting period so that they could equally feel a sense of belonging.
"Governor Sheriff has made history in the state for being the person to introduce the programme which has attracted commendations not only from the beneficiaries, but from the entire Muslim community. But now that Ramadan is coming to an end, we are in serious dilemma on how to cope with the hunger if the exercise is suspended. The government should please consider our plight by making it a daily exercise so that our sufferings could be over."
Kanem Trust learnt that the free Ramadan feeding scheme was introduced two years ago for Muslims in Maiduguri metropolis and Jere local government.
This year's exercise is being coordinated by a 10-man committee set up by the state government with Government Girls' Secondary School, Yerwa as the cooking and packaging centre.
The secretary of the committee and Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Abdurrahman Terab, said the scheme was aimed at alleviating the sufferings of the poor, adding that government emulated Kano and Zamfara states which were the first to introduce it.
The commissioner noted that the distribution exercise, which would last till the end of the fasting, was very transparent and well organised as over 300 people were recruited for cooking, packaging and distribution of the meal, comprising rice, sachets of water, bean cake (kosai), dates and fried meat.
Terrab said the committee had also assigned coordinators, supervisors and quality controllers to ensure that people were served with qualitative meal. According to him, "the committee is distributing the meal to 7,000 individuals daily as against the initial 5,000 people earlier targeted for the exercise, just as over 30 vehicles have been engaged for the distribution".
"Our distribution system differs from that of Kano where there are specified areas for the distribution. We targeted different streets of the five major geographical zones of Maiduguri to reach everyone, we also targeted public areas such as hospital, schools, prisons, mosques, markets, rehabilitation centres, motor parks and Tsangaya Islamic schools, among others", he said.
He advised wealthy individuals to emulate the government initiative to assist the needy, saying that it was a source of inspiration and reawakening on various duties on the part of the believers.
He assured that the committee would make a case for the extension of the scheme to the entire 27 local government areas of the state.
Commenting on the program, an Islamic scholar, Sheikh Abubakar Mustapha, said the Ramadan feeding scheme was in line with the principles of the Holy Qur'an and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), adding that it was essential especially during the ongoing global food crisis.
"People should not think that only the government should do this as various Hadiths of the Prophet encourage people to feed even with the little they have", he observed.
Mustapha noted that feeding the needy and the poor attracted Allah's blessings all the time. "I want to remind Muslims not only in Borno, but in the country at large, on the need to give out zakkatul-fitr (raw food which signifies the end of fasting) to the needy after the Ramadan period as prescribed by the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)".
The cleric, who described zakkatul-fitr as an act of worship ordained by Islam upon Muslims said the act is associated with wisdom and forgiveness. According to him, "Islam encourages giving out zakkatul-fitr as it purifies one from evils committed during Ramadan and also makes one's fast acceptable to the Almighty God.
"Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said that the fasting of every Muslims is hanging between the earth and heaven and that God can only accept it after giving out zakkatul-fitr", he said.
According to Mustapha, Zakkatul-fitr is also meant to bring succour to the less privileged, stressing that it "also promotes brotherhood and unity between the poor and the rich.
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