When Ramadan moon appears in the Nigerian sky, thousands of less privileged Muslims in the West African county are certain that quality feeding is guaranteed as the rich, politicians and governments try to outdo one another giving out foods, money and other welfare packages.
"At least 84 feeding centers have been established across the state to ensure smooth conduct of the annual event," Tukur Alkali, religious affair commissioner for Nigeria's northwestern Sokoto state, told OnIslam.net.
From south to northern Nigeria, governments have announced different feeding arrangements to assist the poor to get through the fasting month with ease.
Alkali said the government alone has earmarked N175m to feed the poor during the holy month which begins in a few days to come.
This is not limited to Sokoto.
Yobe state commissioner for religious affairs, Mohammed Jauro Gwio Kura, said the state has set aside a total N91million to cater for the poor during Ramadan as well as for scholars (ulama) across 183 tafsir (Quran interpretation) centers, among other religious practices.
Same scenes of iftar centers were apparent all over Nigeria, especially the predominantly Muslim northern region.
Most state governments in southwest region also designate iftar centers where people are served fruits and food throughout the fasting period.
Preparations for Ramadan continued as Muslims were urged to look for the new moon of Ramadan on Friday, June 27, which corresponds to 29th day of Sha`ban
To this effect, members of the National Moon Sighting Committee have been deployed with appropriate gadgets to various parts of the country for easy sighting of the moon.
Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar, is expected to start on Saturday or Sunday according to Friday’s moonsighting.
In Ramadan, adult Muslims, save the sick and those traveling, abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.
Muslims dedicate their time during the holy month to be closer to Allah through prayers, self-restraint and good deeds.
It is customary for Muslims to spend part of the days during Ramadan studying the Noble Quran.
Feed a Person
Charitable gestures during the holy month of Ramadan were not limited to government, with individuals, politicians and nonprofit groups involved too.
'Feed a Person this Ramadan' is one of private initiative by some individuals who are mobilizing for donations to the poor and victims of violence in the Boko Haram-wracked Borno state in the northeast.
"All we ask people to do is to kindly donate sealed food items like rice, beans, spaghetti, spice/seasoning, sachet vegetable oil, sugar and salt," Ismail Kabir, coordinator of the initiative, told OnIslam.net.
Isiwat Akande, a major distributor of rice and other major food stuffs at Osodi market in southwest Nigeria, said she has a number of customers who purchase trailer-loads of food stuffs to share for people during Ramadan.
"My customers range from politicians who want to give back to the community during Ramadan especially and businessmen/philanthropists who have already made their order for this year," Akande told OnIslam.net, refusing to give names.
“I sell most during Ramadan. In fact, you will be shocked to discover that our sales during Ramadan sometimes double our annual sale! So, people buy a lot of food stuff and beverages as gifts at the dawn of Ramadan,” she added.
Uzodinma Ugboma, a major dealer in (halal) food drinks at Ojuwoye market of Mushin Lagos, corroborated Akande.
"It is not for nothing that price of food drinks jump during this period. It is in expectation that many people will buy more. At no time do we make brisk sale as we do during the Muslims’ fasting period because people buy these things in bulk," Ugboma told OnIslam.net.
She boasted having customers who buy "food drinks running into millions of naira for distribution to the less privileged and even as gifts during this period. They don't care how much it costs."
All-Year Ramadan
Yemi Adebisi, a Muslim, said he wished things could go on like that all through the year.
"People are nicer during this period. You hardly see people going hungry," he told OnIslam.net.
“For the poor masses, it is wished that Ramadan comes around every month of the year. That is not possible though. But why can't government and philanthropists sustain this kindness to the poor?”
Sheikh AbdulAzeez Ishola, a chieftain of the council of Imam and Alfas in southwest region, said it is normal that people share of their wealth during the fasting period.
"The reward is greater. Everyone especially the rich want to get closer to Allah by giving more to the people. And when you look at what the Prophet (PBUH) said about the rewards in Ramadan, you will understand this trend," the scholar told OnIslam.net.
He however calls on the government and the rich to consider extending similar gestures after Ramadan.
"It is in fact more rewarding to do all these giving outside Ramadan. I should state that one of the things Ramadan should teach is kindness. By fasting and experiencing hunger, we should shudder at the idea of a fellow man going for days without food," sheikh Ishola said.
Observers believe that poverty level in Nigeria - one of the highest in the world - will reduce if governments and wealthy individuals commit to helping the poor round the year as they do during Ramadan.
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Source: OnIslam.net