The Kano State Zakkat and Endowment Board said it had so far collected over N7 million as Zakkat (alms) from wealthy Muslims in the state.
The Director General of the Board, Alhaji Sufiyanu Gwagwarwa, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Tuesday.
He said the money was collected from well-to-do individuals within the eight metropolitan local government areas by the committee, set up by the state government recently to collect Zakkat.
He added that “as at last week, the collection committee has over N7 million which it collected from wealthy Muslims in the city.”
He explained that the Board had already requested for permission from Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje to disburse the proceeds to the poor.
He said “the essence of collecting the Zakkat is to assist the poor to alleviate their sufferings, particularly during the Ramadan fast.
“So, as soon as approval is given, we shall start distributing the money to less privileged people in the state.”
The director general noted that collection committees at the 44 local government areas of the state were still collecting for onward disbursement to people
in the areas.
He advised wealthy Muslims to pay their Zakkat to enable the Board to disburse same to the needy in society.
The Kano State Government recently set up a committee under the leadership of the commissioner for finance to enhance collection. (NAN)