Katsina, 6 Other Northern States Spend ₦28.3bn On Ramadan Feeding

For the Islamic Month of Ramadan, 7 out of 36 Nigerian states have budgeted over ₦28. 3 billion to feed residents during the period.

The states include Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Yobe, Sokoto, Kano and Jigawa.

According to reports, the states allocated hefty sums for the project but have declined to make the actual amount known to the public.

Sokoto set aside ₦6.7 billion, Kano budgeted ₦6 billion, ₦2.83 billion was proposed by Jigawa Government, Kebbi ₦1.5 billion, Niger ₦976 million, and Yobe ₦178 million respectively.

However, Katsina State toppled the charts with ₦10bn naira for feeding the citizens during the Islamic Month.

Kano State government said the ₦6bn is targeted at feeding FOUR MILLION citizens of the state in the 2024 Ramadan feeding programme across the 44 local government areas.

Speaking, Kano Commissioner for Information and Home Affairs, Baba Dantiye“In each centre, we have three women who cook and three men that provide security so that people don’t tamper with the food or cause stampedes.

“In each centre, there are two bags of rice to feed at least 200 people, that is 100 people per bag; there are also varieties such as beans cake and pap and other assorted food being cooked daily and is served between 6.30pm and 7.00p.m targeted at the most-needy.”

Jigawa isn’t different as Sagir Musa, the Commissioner for Information said in a statement that the Ramadan feeding programme will be implemented through 609 feeding centres, with a focus on providing three different food items to 182,700 poor and vulnerable people daily.

A budget of ₦2.83 billion was set-up for the special feeding, and additional ₦1.125 billion for emergency procurement of additional rice and spaghetti to ensure adequate food supply across the state.

In Niger State, ₦976m was allocated for the project, and assorted grains have been procured to be distributed to all the 25 local government areas, emirate councils, religious leaders, security agencies, and political parties in the state.

Kebbi’s ₦1.5bn for the Ramadan feeding programme targets 3 mosques in each of the 21 local government areas, according to a statement by the Special Adviser to the governor on Religious Affairs, Engr. Imran Usman-Abdulrahman.

Mai Mala Buni, Governor of Yobe State said that the ₦187 million was allocated for the feeding of the less privileged and the vulnerable in the state for the period of the fast.