BY MUSA IDRIS UMAR, FEBRUARY 16, 2026 | 09:11 PM
Sa’ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto and president-general of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, has directed Muslim faithful across Nigeria to begin sighting the new moon of Ramadan 1447 AH on Tuesday, February 17.
The directive was contained in a statement signed by Sambo Wali Junaidu, chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs and Wazirin Sokoto on Monday.
The statement urged Muslims to look for the crescent moon after sunset on Tuesday.
It asked anyone who sights the moon to report the information to village or district heads or directly to the Sultanate Council through the following phone numbers: 0803 715 7100, 0806 630 3077, 0803 596 5322, 0803 594 5903, and 0706 714 6900.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is observed by Muslims worldwide as a period of fasting, communal prayer, reflection, and community service.
The month is also believed to be the period when the Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad.
The annual observance of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and lasts between 29 and 30 days, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon.