Moon sighted, as Sultan declares Wednesday as Eid-el-Fitr

Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has declared Wednesday as the Eid-el-Fitr marking the completion of the 2024 Ramadan fast.

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III

The declaration follows the approval by the NSCIA’s President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, who said this in a statement signed by the Deputy Secretary-General of the council, Prof. Salisu Shehu, Monday night.

According to the Sultan of Sokoto, the delay in announcing the end of the fasting period was due to the fact that the new crescent was not sighted in the Kingdom that Monday.

Following the development, this year’s Ramadan fasting would complete 30 on Tuesday.

“The NSCIA under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, wishes to inform the Nigerian Muslim Ummah that there was no positive report of the sighting of the crescent of Shawwal 1445 AH on the 29th of Ramadan 1445 AH.

“Consequently, Ramadan fast will continue tomorrow Tuesday, 9th April 2024 as the 30th day of Ramadan. Therefore, Wednesday, 10th April 2024 is hereby declared as the 1st day of Shawwal 1445 AH and the day of Eid-il-fitr,” Shehu said.

Saudi Arabia had earlier declared Wednesday as the first of Shawwal and Eid day.

It would be recalled that the Sultan had on Sunday, in a statement urged Muslims across the country to look for the new moon of Shawwal immediately after sunset on Monday, 29th Ramadan 1445 A.H. which is equivalent to 8th April 2024.

“If Muslims sight the crescent in accordance with the moon sighting and verification standards, then His Eminence would declare Tuesday, 9th April 2024 as the 1st of Shawwal and the day of ‘Idul Fitr. However, if the crescent is not sighted that day, then Wednesday, 10th April 2024, automatically becomes the day of ‘Idul Fitr.”

The Federal Government had last Friday declared Tuesday and Wednesday as public holidays on the presumption that the moon would be sighted on Monday night.

However, with the latest development, it is unclear if Thursday would be added to the rest days to celebrate the Fitri, as Tuesday was already observed as such.