The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) on Sunday expressed deep concern about the current overwhelming economic challenges in the country, leading to a daily survival battle among the people.
The Supreme Council in a statement signed by the Sultan of Sokoto who doubles as its President-General, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and Secretary-General, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, made available to Tribune Online in Abuja, also noted the devastating impacts of petrol subsidy removal on Nigerians.
According to the Council, Nigerians were now confronted with economic challenges to the extent that meeting basic needs was now a luxury for the majority of Muslims.
It added that for many households, survival is a daily battle as the number of the poor keeps increasing.
“The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) is deeply concerned about the current economic reality in Nigeria and the devastating impacts of the removal of petrol subsidy on Nigerians.
“The Council is aware that the current challenges are overwhelming as those who are just recovering from the aftershocks of terrorism and insecurity are now confronted with economic challenges to the extent that meeting basic needs is now a luxury for the majority of Muslims. For many households, survival is a daily battle as the number of the poor keeps increasing within the ummah,” the NSCIA stated.
To alleviate the sufferings of Muslims across the country, the Supreme Council informed that it had conceived an emergency palliative intervention, the Muslim Care Initiative, to cushion the effects of the current hardships on vulnerable Muslims.
The Initiative, the NSCIA stated, was conceived without prejudice to the efforts of the Federal Government and the various state governments in providing palliatives for Nigerians.
While saying that it is aware that some state governments are discriminating against Muslims through exclusion from intervention, citing Plateau State as a case study, the Council stated that the Muslim Care Initiative would mobilise resources across the country.
“The Ummah Care Initiative is conceived as an emergency palliative intervention to cushion the effects of the current economic hardship on the vulnerable members of the Muslim ummah. This is without prejudice to the efforts of the Federal and State Governments in making palliatives available to Nigerians.
“Meanwhile, the Council is aware that some states are discriminating against Muslims by excluding them from such interventions. A case study of such is Plateau State.
“Given this emergency situation, the Initiative will mobilise resources across the country for the benefit of the socially excluded members of the Muslim community.
“After the exercise, the Initiative will dissolve into MESH which will continue with its generic work of alleviating the suffering of the Nigerian Muslims, giving hope to the poor and providing the basic needs to the most vulnerable,” it stated.
According to the NSCIA, the specific objectives of the Initiative were to: offer psycho-social support to Muslims facing natural and manmade disasters; advocate state response to the economic challenges that face the Muslim ummah at the moment as well as give religious and educational guidance to the poor, the weak and the socially excluded so that they will cope better with life.
The Initiative would also serve as the link between the rich and the poor in order to make the former fulfil their obligations to the latter in line with the Islamic provisions that prescribe rights and responsibilities for Muslims; and cooperate with other stakeholders, governmental and non-governmental, in advancing the cause of the Initiative.
“The strategy of executing this Initiative is based on a five-pronged approach of awareness creation, leadership structure, resource mobilisation, active volunteering and project execution,” it informed.
The Supreme Council stated that listed activities of the Initiative to include: collection of donations in cash and materials;provision of food, water, clothing and other necessary facilities to the needy and sensitisation of the public on the challenges facing the vulnerable, especially the weak, the sick and the poor.
It added that resources mobilised through the Initiative would be distributed within the local governments and communities within the states.
