Amadu Galadima, a Nigerian man residing in the Dukku Local Government Area of Gombe State, asserts that he travels 9.5 kilometers daily from his village to Dukku to procure free food for his nine children, enabling them to break their fast during Ramadan.
Galadima, aged 49, made this known to Daily Trust, revealing that his family is one of the beneficiaries of an annual Ramadan feeding programme organised by a Bulgarian-based charity organisation, Charity Association Margarity, in the state.
“I usually secure motorcycle lift from good Samaritans going to Dukku so that I can get to where the food is distributed to have a plate, and the quantity served is good. When coming back, sometimes I trek some distance before I can see someone to give me a lift back home,” Galadima was quoted as saying by Daily Trust.
He continued: “When I get the food, I take it to my family and I hardly get a mouthful of it. I have 9 children - 5 girls and 4 boys - and this food is greatly helping us as we don’t have what to eat at home. We thank the association for this gesture.”
Like millions of other Muslims around the country, Galadima's tribulation during the holy month of Ramadan could be linked to the current socioeconomic challenges created by President Bola Tinubu's fuel subsidy removal and Naira floating policies.
SaharaReporters had reported several demonstrations tagged as #EndHungerProtests in major cities across the country.
Speaking further on the programme, Alhaji Hafiz Muhammad Sulaiman, the Nigeria Country Coordinator of Charity Association Margarity, stated that the group feeds at least 300 people per day, including widows, orphans, almajiri children, and other impoverished individuals.
According to the organiser, the organisation fed 18,000 people (600 for 30 days) during last year's Ramadan.
He added that the food scheme had been hurt this year by a decrease in donations received by the group, which he attributed to the Gaza war.
Asabe is another beneficiary of the charity. She is a widow and mother of eight, who always travels from a far distance every day to also get free food for her family to eat.
She said, “I come from Daurawa (quarters in Dukku) to collect a plate of this food. I have eight children. I thank these people who are providing this help to us. In this hardship, having this food is helping us. With this food, at least we have what to eat for dinner. It is a great relief!”
Another widow, Malama Fatsuma, stated that she and her children rely on the Iftar meal provided by the association.
“We feed on this food. We thank the leadership of this association for helping us with what to eat. It is only Allah that will reward them. It is a great help, especially in this trying time,” she said.
“In this period when prices of food items have increased, the food we get here (from the association) is a succour to my family.
“Sometimes we hardly have what to eat, but with this help, at least I have what to take to my family every day. I’ve been saved the cost of giving them dinner at least,” Abdullahi Isma’il, another beneficiary said.