The Vice-President, Namadi Sambo, has said the federal government will establish 100 almajiri special schools across the nation as part of its efforts to prevent street begging.

He stated this in Gusau, Zamfara State capital, on Sunday at the end of the week long National Qur'an Recitation Competition.According to Sambo, the schools when fully established, will promote both Islamic and western education among children of school age who are now roaming the streets.He stated that although the schools would be built across the country, a larger number would be established in the northern part of the country.

Sambo said the federal government had procured 96 million text books in core subjects of English, mathematics, sciences and social studies to improve teaching and learning at the junior secondary school level.He said the text books, which would soon be distributed, were purchased through the Text Books Initiative of the Universal Basic Education Commission.Sambo commended the organisers of the competition as a good initiative towards discovering hidden talents, which would assist oneness, unity and brotherhood among the Muslim Umma and their relationship with others.

He also noted that the initiative would also be a mechanism for the attainment of lasting peace.The vice-president commended the Zamfara State Government and the Centre for Islamic Research of the Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto for organising the event.Earlier in his welcome address, the state governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, urged participants to use the event to pray for peace and well being of the nation.

At the end of the competition, 60 winners in six categories of the competition made up of males and females were given one car each, Hajj seats, lap tops and digital Qur'an.

Is almajiri a national problem?