… Says: We’ve mobilised over N700m zakat funds in 10 years

Current economic downturn not excuse to evade zakat — Onike

By Haroon-Ishola Balogun

Nasfat Agency for Zakat and Sadaqat (NAZAS) has disbursed N130 million in zakat to 300 indigents. The disbursement was held last Sunday at the CIPM House, Ikeja, Lagos, after the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting, AGM, which ratified the 2023 accounts of the organisation.

Cash gifts and empowerment materials such as chest freezers, grinding machines, vulcanizing machines, and sewing machines were distributed to beneficiaries.

It was gathered that the beneficiaries who were carefully selected by a special committee were mostly non-members of the organisation but with special needs such as scholarships to further their education, health challenges, monthly stipend for the aged, debt relief empowerment materials, among others.

Speaking to newsmen during the distribution, the interim chairman of the organisation, Alhaji Abdulwahab Abdulrahman, said a total of N130 million was disbursed and expressed satisfaction that the process was seamless. He noted that beneficiaries were not limited to members of NASFAT alone.

“Beneficiaries included other Muslims, whether they are members of NASFAT or not. Once they qualified for the disbursement, they were selected, having also passed through the necessary screening.”

He stated that the NAZAS Team has a target of sourcing N200 million for 2024 disbursement, expressing optimism that with the year half gone, the target will be met. 

“As of this year (July), we have been able to raise N150 million. Our target this year is N200 million. We hope before the year ends, we’ll reach the target,” he stated.

He said NAZAS has zonal branches across Nigeria, including in Kaduna, Kano, Abuja, and even beyond the shores of the country in Côte d’Ivoire.

“Zakat is one of the pillars of Islam. We have been engaging our Imams to sensitise Muslims on the payment of zakat. As they preach to them to pray, they should also urge them to pay zakat. But of course, there are Muslims, who pay zakat without being prompted. They know that at the end of the year, they should send their zakat. So, the process has been challenging, but it is not insurmountable.”

The process was seamless – GM

Also, the General Manager, Alhaji Mufutau Adelotan, said application forms were released by the agency in January every year.

“After filling out the form, we subjected the applicants to an interview. We have a committee on the board called the Technical Committee. Our Imams basically formed the membership of this committee. Their job is to interact with the applicants one-on-one to ask for their needs and ascertain the veracity of their claims,” he stated.

“This is our tenth year, and we have collected well over N700 million as zakat since inception. To be specific for this year, as of June, we collected about N154 million. Today, across all our zones and headquarters, we are disbursing N130 million, to over 300 beneficiaries. From the balance of N20 million, some funds will be disbursed later, and a part will go for the running cost.”
However, he lamented that the dollar-to-naira exchange rate has made it difficult for many Nigerians to meet the nisab (financial threshold for qualifying to pay zakat).

“Right now, based on the dollar rate and current price of gold, nisab is around N10 million. An average Nigerian worker or investor cannot meet up with the nisab. But they can do sadaqah on a regular basis.”

Previous beneficiaries are giving back

Adelotan noted that previous beneficiaries of NAZAS zakat disbursement are doing well in their endeavours, and have started giving back in their own little ways.

“By December, we will have Food and Clothing Day, most of our previous beneficiaries support the initiative. Aside from that, our beneficiaries have been giving back in other ways. For instance, the plaques we gave to our past directors were made by one of them. He has also been training people on the trade. So, they have been giving back materially too,” he said.

Current economic downturn not an excuse to evade zakat — Onike

In his lecture, the Chief Missioner, Worldwide, Sheikh Abdulazeez Onike admonished that the current economic downturn in the country should not be an excuse for Muslims to evade zakat, adding that the challenging times is part of Allah’s plan for us as He had not promised everything will go smoothly all the time. 

“Allah has never promised us that everything will go on smoothly all the time. It is even now that some people are making money. Everybody is complaining that there is no money, but some people are smiling to the banks. Regardless of the economic situation, the Muslim community should continue to give zakat to the vulnerable. It is a religious duty. There will always be people who can afford to pay zakat, and they must pay it.”

The Islamic scholar lamented that wealthy people lavish resources on insignificant things, noting they need to share their resources with other people in society in order to alleviate their sufferings.

“Islam is a way of life. It has a say in all aspects of our life: health, finance, palliative, intellect. No aspect of our life is left out. An aspect is empowerment. Our empowerment is to ensure that no Muslim goes to sleep hungry. That’s one of the teachings of our religion, that people have a share in our wealth. The fact that you have the resources means that some people are denied the resources, and you should share the resources with them. Allah has decided to put them in your care to know whether you’ll support them or not.

“Allah says we have raised some of you above others. All of us will not be billionaires or millionaires. But the basic things of life should be affordable to everybody. There was a time in the history of Islam that zakat was being shared, and there was nobody to collect it. We can live that same life.

“People are hoarding resources. People are sending money to children abroad. They are having four to five houses, when they can only sleep in one room. Why don’t we endow the remaining ones to Islam for the benefit of other people in society? Something is wrong with our society. It is not about ignorance because we are aware.

“Our payment of zakat will cushion the effect of poverty in Nigeria. We are not saying we are eliminating poverty, but we want to alleviate poverty. Half a loaf is better than no bread. Whatever we have given out will change the lives of the beneficiaries one way or the other. The essence is not to see a beggar among Muslims.

“If we look at our environment, especially the Muslim population, we’ll feel touched by the magnitude of destitution all around. And that’s why zakat is here. But a lot of us, the Muslims, don’t pay attention because we don’t even think it’s important.

“As good as NAZAS has done over the years, we should know that we are still below capacity in light of the available potential. So, we need to come up with strategies on how we can increase the consciousness of Muslims. The Muslims we are talking about are not just NASFAT members, but the Muslim community in general.”

Sheikh Onike congratulated the leadership and membership of NASFAT on the occasion of the 2024 Annual General Meeting, commending both past and current Directors of NAZAS for sustaining the momentum and gradually moving towards attainment of the set objectives of NAZAS.

“You are doing very well, and you should be proud of what you have done. May Allah reward each and every one of us,” he said.