The Kano State Government has announced an ambitious plan to distribute more than 3.5 million meals during the 2026 fasting season as part of its humanitarian Ramadan Feeding Programme aimed at supporting vulnerable residents.
Officials say the initiative is one of the largest social support efforts in the state during the holy month of Ramadan, when many Muslims fast from dawn to sunset.
The programme is designed to provide daily meals to thousands of households struggling with the rising cost of food and other living expenses.
The state Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Ahmed Tijjani, disclosed the details of the programme during an inspection tour of several designated cooking centres responsible for preparing and packaging meals for distribution.
According to Tijjani, the state government is committed to ensuring that the Ramadan Feeding Programme operates efficiently and maintains high standards of food preparation.
The inspection exercise, he explained, was organised to evaluate hygiene practices, examine the quality of food ingredients, and assess the cooking environment at each centre involved in the initiative.
He noted that the inspection team focused mainly on the cooking and packaging stages of the process rather than the distribution stage.
The goal, he said, was to ensure that meals are prepared in safe environments before they are transported to distribution points across the state.
During the visit, the commissioner said the team inspected several contractors responsible for preparing large quantities of food daily for the programme.
Some of the contractors, he revealed, cook meals for tens of thousands of beneficiaries every day.
“One of the companies we visited prepares meals for approximately 25,000 people daily, while others produce between 13,000 and 25,000 food packages every day,” Tijjani said.
The scale of the initiative reflects the government’s determination to use the Ramadan Feeding Programme as a social safety net for residents who may struggle to afford meals during the fasting period.
Officials explained that the programme aims to prepare and distribute about 115,000 meal packs every day throughout the 29-day Ramadan period.
If the target is achieved, the total number of meals provided during the exercise will exceed 3.5 million.
Distribution of the meals will take place across the eight metropolitan Local Government Areas of Kano State, where population density is highest.
Authorities believe focusing on urban centres will help reach more residents who require food assistance.
Tijjani praised the contractors operating the cooking centres for maintaining a high level of cleanliness and organisation.
According to him, the inspection team carefully examined the kitchens, storage areas, and packaging processes to confirm that the meals met the hygiene standards set by the state government.
He expressed satisfaction with the conditions observed during the visits and noted that the food preparation environments appeared orderly and properly managed.
“We looked at the cooking areas, the surrounding environment, and the packaging procedures to ensure the food meets acceptable hygiene standards. We are pleased with what we have seen so far,” the commissioner said.
Government officials supervising the programme have also intensified monitoring efforts in order to maintain quality control throughout the feeding exercise.
Tijjani explained that for the past two weeks, inspection teams have been moving from one cooking centre to another to monitor both the quantity of food produced and the overall quality of the meals.
This step, he said, was necessary to address early concerns raised at the beginning of the programme.
At the initial stage of the exercise, some beneficiaries reportedly complained about the quality of certain meals.
However, authorities say those issues have largely been resolved following increased supervision and direct engagement with contractors.
The commissioner added that the monitoring exercise has helped ensure that all participating cooking centres comply with the guidelines set for the Ramadan Feeding Programme.
Another issue tackled by the government involves attempts by some individuals to divert food meant for official distribution points.
Tijjani acknowledged that isolated incidents of food diversion were reported during the early days of the programme.
According to him, the state government worked closely with local authorities and community leaders to address the problem and ensure that meals reached the intended beneficiaries.
He noted that after the intervention, cases of diversion have significantly reduced.
“Whenever such issues arise, we collaborate with local authorities to resolve them quickly. The situation has improved greatly,” he said.
Officials say the Ramadan Feeding Programme also follows specific dietary guidelines approved by the state government to ensure the meals are nutritious and suitable for fasting individuals.
During the inspections, the monitoring team checked the ingredients being used for cooking, including cooking oil, seasonings, rice, grains, and meat.
The commissioner confirmed that the ingredients met the quality standards required by the state government.
Ensuring the nutritional value of the meals is considered important because the food is intended to help people break their fast after long hours without eating.
The Kano State Government has maintained that the Ramadan Feeding Programme will continue to be closely supervised until the end of the fasting period.
Authorities believe consistent monitoring will help maintain quality and guarantee that the programme achieves its humanitarian objectives.
For many residents, the feeding initiative provides relief during Ramadan, especially for families facing financial hardship.
By distributing thousands of meals daily, the state hopes to ease the burden on households and reinforce the spirit of compassion and community that the holy month represents.
As Ramadan progresses, officials say the programme will remain under strict oversight to ensure transparency, fairness, and efficiency in delivering food support to those who need it most.
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