The Sokoto State government has earmarked N998 million for the 2025 Ramadan feeding programme.

The feeding programme will take place at 155 designated feeding centres across the state.

Speaking at the distribution of food items for the feeding centre managers on Tuesday in Sokoto, Governor Ahmad Aliyu said each centre would be provided with assorted foodstuff and cooking utensils.

He said 1,400 persons were engaged in the exercise, including 610 women as cooks.

The governor said no fewer than 20,000 persons were expected to be fed in each centre daily until the end of Ramadan fasting.

Mr Aliyu, who tasked managers of the centres on transparency, urged residents to ensure orderliness during the exercise.

The governor announced that 990 bags of maize were also distributed to 2,400 religious leaders in another segment of the Ramadan fasting support scheme.

He said each mosque imam received five bags of maize and N100,000, the deputy imams got three bags of maize and N50,000 each, while the Mu’adhins were given two bags of maize and N50,000 each.

Mr Aliyu added that 300 Islamic scholars selected from wards were also provided with N200,000 each, while another 100 were given N100,000 each.

The governor further said 10 Quranic scholars (Malaman Zaure) from each ward across the 23 local government areas have been selected to receive N50,000 each.

He said the gesture aimed to empower them to continue rendering religious obligations at the grassroots.

”This support is intended to assist them and their families, with a view to enable them to focus on their vital religious responsibilities during the sacred period.

”The gesture is in appreciation of the numerous spiritual contributions these scholars give to people of the state in order to ensure that Islamic activities, especially at the grassroots level, are being run unhindered,” Mr Aliyu said.

In his remark, the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Jabir Maihula, said the exercise was expanded from the previous years, noting that it started during the administration of former Governor Aliyu Wammako.

Mr Maihula said the Ramadan feeding programme provided job opportunities to many people and enhanced commercial activities in the state.

(NAN)