NAZAS accomplish 100 million target in zakat collection

NASFAT Agency for Zakat and Sadaqat (NAZAS) has recorded a massive improvement in its Zakat collection despite the economic downturn. The agency’s 2021 yearly report showed tremendous improvement, as the group raised N100 million within a year for the first time in its history of operation.

Speaking during the agency’s yearly general meeting, which also heralded the disbursement of N23 million Zakat fund to about 126 beneficiaries, the Chairman of NAZAS, Hafiz Bakare, commended board members, management team and leadership of the zonal advisory council on the agency’s achievement.

“In the last seven years of operations, the agency has been able to collect over N450 million for the benefit of close to 50,000 indigents, including about 2000 direct beneficiaries impacted through the yearly Ramadan and Muharram disbursements, as well as the emergency medical disbursement. These activities include interventions at Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps have been made possible with regular payments of Zakat and Sadaqat by our continuously expanding base of donours across the country.”

He noted that for the first time in its history, the agency achieved the milestone of crossing the N100 million mark in Zakat and Sadaqat collections within a single year.

“This was a result of coordinated efforts and consolidation of activities across all operating units of the agency comprising the head-office and five zones including the international location in Cote d’Ivoire which had its first year in 2021,” the General Manager, NAZAS, Alhaji Muftau Adelotan, said.

He added that the agency was able to raise the sum in the year ended 1443 AH. His words: “Today, we are disbursing N23 million to signify the Muharram, 1444AH disbursement to 126 beneficiaries. The impact of this on the lives of Nigerians is that it is going to alleviate poverty and equally increase the employment rate and reduce hunger among us.”

According to the GM, the beneficiaries include, both members and non-members of NASFAT, who need support, as many of them smiled home with sewing machines, industrial sewing machines, grinding machines, ovens, deep freezers and others.

“If you look at the list of beneficiaries, a small percentage of them are members. Others are from outside,” he said.

The President of NASFAT Society, Alhaji Niyi Yusuf, described Zakat as an obligation in Islam, noting that Muslims, who have attained a prescribed net worth are to pay Zakat.

He explained that NAZAS has a presence in five out of the six geopolitical zonacrosses in Nigeria, saying the agency also seeks to expand its coverage, especially, where NASFAT has a membership base.
“We started in Lagos, but now we have branches in Abuja, Kano, and we are starting in Kaduna. We are also in Port Harcourt. The widespread is what has led us to be able to gather over a hundred million Naira. We are no longer doing it in Lagos alone. We are now doing it in at least five of the six geopolitical zones. The remaining zone is the Northeast. Once we establish in the Northeast, NAZAS will be present there.

“NAZAS is the Zakat agency of NASFAT. So, we are touching locations where we have NASFAT members and branches. We started with Nigeria. Then, we moved to Côte d’Ivoire. There are other locations on the West Coast like Ghana, UK and the US. Our goal is for NAZAS to follow the NASFAT membership wherever they might be. We have a presence in six or seven countries on the West Coast: Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Senegal. Those will be the next sequence that we plan for the operations of NAZAS,” the General Manager said.

The Chief Missioner of NASFAT, Imam Abdul-Azeez Maruf Onike, said the Zakat disbursement programme, through NAZAS, is in line with the mission of NASFAT to develop and enlighten the Ummah, nurture the true understanding of Islam for spiritual development and the welfare of mankind.

He charged Muslims who have the means to pay Zakat, noting that Allah institutionalised Zakat to reduce poverty among people. “Almighty Allah who has institutionalised Zakat is our creator. He knows if those who have given to those who don’t, poverty would be reduced, drastically. Allah says there is no creature that has not been provided for by the creator. That provision may now be kept with someone else. “It now behoves that person to discharge the responsibility of giving the provision to those who need it. That’s why everybody who can pay Zakat should release part of it, just 2.5 per cent to those around him.”