ODSCIA distributes Dangote Rice palliatives to Muslim faithfuls
By Oluwatosin Abdulmalik
Ondo State Council for Islamic Affairs (ODSCIA) has distributed Dangote Rice palliative of 10,000 bags of 10 kilogrammes to all Islamic stakeholders across the state.
The distribution commenced a day before Eid-el-fitri prayer as the first trailer consignment arrived Akure, the Ondo State capital where beneficiaries were alerted for collection.
Speaking on the development, the Chief Imam of Araromi-Obu kingdom and Chairman, Ondo State Council for Islamic Affairs (ODSCIA), Alhaji Sheikh Muhammad Abibullahi Akinpelumi said it was distributed across the state to all the major Muslims organizations like the league of Imam and Alfas, FOMWAN, NACOMYO , Ansa-ur-deen, NASFAT, MSSN, and many other organizations.
The distribution was monitored by representative of the government through the Muslim Welfare Board who were also considered as beneficiaries as well as an NGO and staff of the donor.
He expressed happiness that Allah has used his organisation through the medium to reach out to all the Muslims in the nooks and crannies of the state which has made history.
He prayed that Allah bless Dangote for the donation and the Federal government for the initiative.
“It cuts across every state of the federation including Abuja, so we have every course to thank Allah through them.”
“This is the first time we will receive this type of palliative from the government through the Ondo State Council for Islamic Affairs.
“We learnt through our zoom meeting that they have been doing such in the past through the government agencies but that the feedback were not encouraging and have to make use of Ondo State Council for Islamic Affairs as the medium”
According to him, some adjustments were made regarding the number of palliative given to some organisation because there were many mother organisations coming to ask of their palliative.
Akinpelumi appealed for an increment in the number of consignment to Ondo state considering their population which he said is running to not less than four million Muslims.
“We are not less than 4 million so there is no way 10,000 items can go round every households but we are trying as much as possible and that is the reason why we are using the organizations especially the major organizations that cuts across the state like the Ansaardeen, Ansaar Islam, OMU, and others,” he stated.
In addition, he noted that the Muslim disabilities were equally captured while the Muslims in politics and the political appointees were also recognized through the Muslim welfare board.
He further stated that those that were not captured among the organisation’s would be captured through their various Imams and Alfas in as much as such Muslims are practicing ones and are known within their locality.
He however appealed for early supply of the palliative subsequently to hasten distribution to meet the celebration of the festival it was meant for.
Akinpelumi commended those that participated in one way or the other in ensuring that the supply and distribution were successfully implemented as expected.
Receiving the first trailer of the consignment, the Vice Chairman 2 of the Ondo state Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Ademola Abdulwaheed Fadola said Dangote Rice palliative was for fasting Muslims to celebrate the end of Ramadan.
Fadola said the distribution were expected to have been done a day to the Eid, but that the three trailers did not arrive together due to logistic problems and deplorable road in Nigeria.
He appealed to those who got theirs late saying that the situation would be better next time than what was experienced this year.
Reacting on the distribution, Chief Imam of Supare Akoko and Secretary, League of Imam and Alfa, Ondo State,
Alhaji Abdulrasheed Akerele acknowledge the receipt of the consignment as he appreciated the donor, Dangote group of companies for the initiative.
“The distribution is very superb and I have to commend the Chairman of Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Akinpelumi and other members of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs for the good job they have done.
” The first trailer load came, it was distributed to people without any problem.
“This one too is here, people have been coming from different local governments and they’ve been taking their consignment and they have been going without any problem.
“The people that are in charge are very okay, Alhaji Akinpelumi and Alhaji Waheed Fadola, have been doing a very good job. Almighty Allah will reward them,” he prayed.
According to him, the consignment will get to the downtrodden considering the way they were distributed.
State Coordinator of National Council of Muslim Youths Organization (NACOMYO), Engr Dayo Ogunmola Muhammed expressed excitement and urged other philanthropist and well-to-do Muslim faithfuls, to emulate the good gesture by extending hands of fellowship to other Muslim faithfuls.
Muhammed who solicited for more palliatives to go round the large population of Muslims in the state, noted that the distribution covered at least an appreciable percentage number of the people.
