The Sokoto State Government on Wednesday disbursed N95.4 million to committees of 87 mosques for upkeep of their respective worship centres.

Governor Ahmad Aliyu, who disclosed this at the disbursement ceremony, said that the initiative was in fulfilment of his electioneering campaign promises aimed at easing challenges in religious centres.

The amount is to be used as three months routine maintenance allowances for the mosques.

The governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Bello Sifawa, charged mosque committee members to ensure transparency in using the funds.

He said the funds were meant for routine activities such as maintenance of electricity, water systems, leaky roofs, sanitation and other miscellaneous works in the mosques.

Mr Aliyu commended the state government committee for careful screening and categorisation of the mosques, depending on size and chain of activities.

Earlier, the state Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Jabir Maihula, said the mosques were categorised into three grades, with 20 in grade 1, 17 in grade 2, while 50 Mosques were on grade 3.

According to Mr Maihula, mosques in grade 1 will receive N500,000, grade 2, N400,000, and grade 3 will collect N300,000 each month.

He said each mosque committee was mandated to open a bank account for monthly payment, and a separate committee was constituted to supervise the spending.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, represented by the Wazirin Sokoto, Sambo Wali-Junaid, lauded the state government’s efforts in assisting religious activities across the state. 

(NAN)