Non-Payment of ‘Zakat’ Hinders Fight Against Hunger, Group Tells Wealthy Muslim Faithful
By Nabob Ogbonna, Abakaliki
The national leadership of the Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation yesterday expressed concern that the failure of wealthy Muslim faithful across the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, to fulfill their compulsory Zakat obligations, as prescribed in Islam, has significantly hindered the organization’s efforts to combat hunger and address economic challenges facing less-privileged Muslims.
The group, however, called on affluent Muslims to strictly adhere to the teachings of Islam by contributing 2.5 percent of their earnings as Zakat to the foundation.
The Executive Director of the Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, Alhaji Prince Suleman Olagunju, made this appeal on Tuesday during the 2025 Annual Zakat Disbursement Ceremony held in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
Olagunju, who was represented by the Head of Finance, Alhaji Yusuf Adelaku, distributed various items including sewing machines, an aluminum ladder, cutting machines, a deep freezer, a POS machine, and cash to 23 indigent Muslim youths in the state.
He noted that the foundation had empowered over 800 indigent Muslims across 29 states within the first half of 2025.
“This is an annual event we carry out across various states in Nigeria. The major challenge currently facing the Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation is the reluctance of our wealthy Muslim brothers to fulfill their Zakat obligations,” he said.
“Zakat is a compulsory act of worship in Islam. Allah has ordained both how it should be collected and how it should be distributed. There are at least eight categories of people eligible to benefit from Zakat.”
“I am appealing to well-to-do Muslims in Nigeria to take Zakat seriously. Their failure to pay Zakat is a major reason why we continue to face numerous unresolved economic challenges, including widespread hunger.”
“You must first account for your liabilities and debts, then pay just 2.5 percent of your wealth. It is a small amount, and Allah instructs us to pray for those who fulfill this obligation.”
“When you give Zakat from your wealth, Allah will increase you in abundance. It also serves as a form of spiritual assurance.”
“Today, we have distributed ₦2.2 million in Ebonyi State. Yesterday, we disbursed the same amount in Imo State, and tomorrow we will distribute another ₦2.2 million in Nsukka, Enugu State. This program is still ongoing.”
Earlier, the state coordinator, Alhaji Haruna Ajah, cautioned beneficiaries against selling any of the items given to them. He warned that the foundation would not hesitate to arrest and prosecute anyone found engaging in such acts.
For the past 15 years, the Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation has carried out uninterrupted empowerment programs in the state.
