The Nasrul-lahi-li Fathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT) has said it would be feeding about one million Nigerians during and after the Ramadan fast.
The body also called on Nigerians not to despair in the face of the current economic challenges facing the nation.
The President of the association, Ayodeji AbdulRauf, revealed NASFAT’s plans to journalists, on Saturday, during its annual Ramadan lecture tagged “Despair not of the mercy of Allah” at its Islamic Centre in Assese, Ogun State.
AbdulRauf said, “In Lagos alone, we target feeding 60,000 people; likewise, in all other locations across the country. We are giving at all our locations a minimum of 500 and a maximum of 8,000 people. We know some are doing up to 10,000.
“I know Kaduna has started since the beginning of Ramadan. They are feeding about 1,000 people per day. So, Kaduna today would have fed close to about 6,000. And this includes the Sahur and Iftar. By the time we finished Ramadan and the entire program, NASFAT alone would have fed over a million people.
“The feeding programme we intend to continue even after Ramadan. Everything depends on our members. It may not be daily. We may decide to pick a particular quarter to do it. Everything depends on the kind of funds we can raise”.
A guest speaker, an associate professor of the Department of Foreign Language, Lagos State University, Dr Saheed Timehin, speaking on the theme of the lecture, urged Nigerians not to despair in the face of current economic challenges.
He said, “We should be talking about Ramadan today. But NASFAT, in its wisdom, decided to address an issue that is affecting everybody, especially during this harsh economic situation where everyone is in a state of hopelessness and helplessness. This is the reason why we want to examine the concept of despair”.
Meanwhile, a former governor of Zamfara State and Senator representing Zamfara West Senatorial District, Yari Abubakar, has called on his supporters to use the Ramadan period to pray for President Bola Tinubu to stabilise the nation’s economy and security.
Yari said, “Praying for Tinubu and the nation would guarantee the present and future of Nigerians”.
He made the plea while hosting over 2,500 All Progressives Congress (APC) members from 147 political wards in the state to a Ramadan breakfast which lasted for five days at his residence in Talata-Mafara town.
Yari said it was instructive in Islam that followers should always pray for the success of their leaders because they steer the wheel of their lives adding that, “such prayers will see them through”.
During the event, the former governor gave each participant the sum of N50,000 and a set of clothes.
Also, to enable Muslims faithful to attend Tafsir, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has reviewed the restriction order on operations of commercial tricycles, popularly known as Keke Napep, in Yola North, Yola South and Girei local government areas.
According to a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Humwashi Wonosikou, the restriction of movement on tricycle operators which, was formerly from 10 pm to 5 am, has been changed to 11 pm to 5 am daily.
According to Fintiri, the new directive, coinciding with the Ramadan fasting period, takes immediate effect.
“The development is to enable the Muslims to partake in ‘Tafsir’ sessions during the period”, he said.
The state government had in February 2021 imposed a restriction of movement on tricycle operators in the three local councils through the Adamawa State Restriction of Movement of Tricycles/Motorcycles Executive Order No.1 of 2021.
The governor said, “Security agencies have been directed to beef up security across the state, especially in the affected councils, by deploying more service personnel and ensuring the security of life and property.
“Anyone found wanting will be made to face the wrath of the law”.
