Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, through Aliko Dangote Foundation, has launched the distribution of free meals to no fewer than 10,000 fasting Muslims in Kano State.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mrs Samira Sanusi, an official of the foundation in Kano, a copy of which was made available to The Punch on Monday.
According to Sanusi, the gesture was also extended by distributing one million bags of rice, worth over N13 billion across the 36 states of the federation and Abuja to alleviate hunger in the country.
“The gesture is aimed at easing hardship for millions of Nigerians amidst economic challenges in the country.
“This is in addition to the distribution of 20,000 loaves of bread daily to Kano residents and 15,000 daily to Lagos residents, a feeding gesture that started and sustained since 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.
Mrs Sanusi explained that the Ramadan free cooked meal includes jollof rice, white rice and stew, jollof spaghetti, yam, beans with chicken and beef, packed with a bottle of water and drink for each person.
She said the packed meals are distributed at Juma’at mosques, on the streets, prisons, orphanages, remand homes, and other places in Kano city and its environs.
A beneficiary of the meal, Musa Maikatako, a resident of Tarauni who spoke with the Punch on Monday, expressed appreciation for the gesture, which he said had helped him break his fast with ease.
Maikatako said the free meal would ameliorate the suffering of a lot of people who might break their fasts with only water, without food, considering the economic hardship faced by many poor Nigerians.
“I can not explain how happy I am. This meal will go a long way in assisting poor people like me to have something to at least break our fast with some solid food to eat.
“I know a lot of people in this state who break their fast with only water. So this meal is a great relief,” he said.
While expressing happiness, Maikatako showed appreciation to Dangote Foundation for the gesture, praying to God to replenish his wealth and continue to bless his business.
Another beneficiary, Hajiya Inna Tukur, expressed delight at the distribution of the meal, which, according to her, Aliko Dangote Foundation, has come to her aid.
“This feeding programme for 10,000 Kano residents daily with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, a unique feat that has been in existence for over 30 years from his mother’s residence in Koki quarters and various cooking locations,” she said.
