Eid ul-Fitr

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, under the leadership of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has declared that fasting may continue on Sunday because Nigeria has not sighted the moon, indicating the end of the month of Ramadan.

NSCIA made this known in a statement signed by the Secretary-General, Prof Is-haq Oloyede, on Saturday.
He also enjoined the Muslims to search for the crescent of Shawwal on the 29th of Ramadan.

“If Muslims sight the crescent in accordance with the moon sighting and verification standards, then His Eminence would declare Sunday, March 30, 2025, as the 1st of Shawwal and the day of Idul Fitr,” he said.

Earlier on Saturday, Saudi Arabia announced that the crescent of Shawwal has been sighted.

The country also added that Eid al-Fitr will now be held on Sunday, March 30, 2025, to mark the beginning of the new Islamic month.

This disclosure was made on Haramin’s official Facebook page, an official platform for the Muslim community.

“The crescent moon for the month of Shawwal 1446 was sighted in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, Eid Al Fitr will be celebrated on Sunday, March 30, 2025.”

Days before the announcement, the Federal Government declared Monday, March 31, and Tuesday, April 1 as public holidays to mark the Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Magdalene Ajani.

The minister congratulated all Muslims for the successful completion of the fasting in the holy month of Ramadan.
He urged all Muslims to “embrace the virtues of self-discipline, compassion, generosity, and peace, emphasising the importance of love, forgiveness, and solidarity in building a harmonious society.”

Tunji-Ojo called on Nigerians to use this festive period to pray for peace, stability, and prosperity of the nation.

He expressed hope that the joyous occasion of Eid-el-Fitr would inspire unity and cooperation across religious and ethnic lines.

He encouraged citizens to celebrate safely and responsibly while remembering the less privileged through acts of kindness and charity, in keeping with the true spirit of Ramadan and Eid.

In a statement released on Monday evening, the Sultan of Sokoto and the President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has declared Wednesday, April 10th, as the day for Eid-Fitri.

The declaration, he says, followed the report of the National Moon Sighting Committees across the country which confirmed that the moon has not been sighted.

A statement signed by the Chairman, Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs to the Sultanate Council, Prof Sambo Junaidu, and made available to newsmen in Sokoto on Monday evening, said the council accepted the report and accordingly declared Wednesday, April 10, 2024, as the first day of Shawwal 1445AH.

“His Eminence, the Sultan felicitates with the Nigerian Muslim Ummah and wishes them Allah’s guidance and blessings.

“The Sultan, while urging the Muslim Ummah to continue to pray for peace, progress, and development of the country, also wishes all Muslims a happy Eid-El-Fitri,” the statement read.

This announcement aligns with the decision made in Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia had earlier declared that the crescent of Shawwal has not been sighted, indicating that the fasting will continue on Tuesday and Eid-el-Fitr will be on Wednesday.

The Federal Government had earlier declared Tuesday, April 9th and Wednesday, 10th April, 2024 as holidays to mark this year’s Eid-el-Fitr celebration.