Kaduna (Nigeria) – Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria has announced cancellation of Government’s “package” to support muslims in the state during the Ramadan fast.
Governor El-Rufai said his government could not continue sharing state resource in meeting such needs, adding that if he does that he would only be left with money to pay salaries.
Muslims in the state have on annual basis received food items including rice, millet, vegetable oil, milk, sugar and other essential commodities during Ramadan.
El-Rufai made this known when he received the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI).
“I have also been made to understand that, this Ramadan period, we are supposed to have started sharing rice, milk and sugar, but we will not do that. One, the government is not supposed to be involved in religious activities. Two, the government is broke.
So, we solicit for your prayers to be able to stabilize the situation and we hope that things will improve,” he said.
Responding to the earlier call for the return of missionary schools to the churches, Mr. El-Rufai said, the government cannot return the schools and continue funding them.
While promising to set up a committee to look into the matter, the Governor pointed out that ownership is not what matters, but quality education and equal opportunity to every child.
Earlier, the JNI delegation led by Ibrahim Kufena offered a special prayer for the success of Mr. El-Rufai’s administration and assured the government of JNI’s readiness to assist government in maintenance of peace at all times.
