Sokoto- The Sokoto State Zakat Committee on Monday said it had spent about N927. 6 m on 7,000 physically challenged persons and other indigent persons across the state.
The Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Lawal Maidoki told newsmen in Sokoto that the money was released to the committee by the Sokoto State Government in 2014.
According to him, N549.6 million out of the amount was spent on the payment of monthly allowances to physically challenged persons in the 23 local governments of the state.
“There are nearly 7,000 physically challenged persons benefiting from the state government’s gesture, and they are each being given N6,500 monthly.
“The gesture is to alleviate their suffering and reduce the menace of street begging across the state,” he explained.
Maidoki further explained that the balance of N378 million was utilised under various intervention measures to reduce poverty and tackle unemployment in the state.
He said the measures had targeted the sick, including mentally deranged persons, orphans, women, the elderly and those affected by natural calamities such as windstorm, flood and fire.