Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto has declared Thursday as the first day for the beginning of the Ramadan fasting in Nigeria.
Abubakar made the announcement in a broadcast after citing the new crescent in Sokoto on Wednesday.
He said the new moon was sighted in various places across the country, including Sokoto, Niger, Yobe, Port Harcourt, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa and other areas.
The Sultan said, “After due verification and authentication by the national moon sighting committee and states committees’ confirmation, as well as routine scrutiny, the sighting of the new moon of Ramadan signifies the end of Sha’aban 1439 AH.
“In accordance with Islamic law, Muslim Ummah are to commence fasting on Thursday accordingly.
“All Muslims should devote themselves fully to the worship of Allah throughout the holy month, and use the period to pray for the progress, peace and prosperity of the nation.
“We further call on Nigerians to continue to live peacefully with one another irrespective of religious and tribal difference,” he said.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar in which Muslims observe one month fasting.
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