The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has announced that that fasting in the month of Ramadan will last 30 days adding Muslim faithful in the country will complete the exercise by fasting on Wednesday.
This was declared via a tweet post by the national moon-sighting committee of NSCIA announced on Tuesday.
Sambo Walli Junaidu, Wazirin Sokoto and chairman of an advisory committee on religious affairs for the sultanate council of Sokoto, said in a statement that there was no positive sighting of the crescent moon for the month of Shawwal.
The statement read, “The Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs in conjunction with the National Moon Sighting Committee did not receive any report from various Moon Sighting Committees across the country confirming the sighting of the New Moon of Shawwal 1442AH, on Tuesday, 11th May, 2021 which was the 29th day of Ramadan 1442AH. Therefore, Wednesday, 12, May, 2021 is the 30th day of the month of Ramadan 1442AH.
“His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar CFR, mni, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has accepted the report and accordingly declared Thursday, 13th May, 2021 as the first day of Shawwal 1442AH. (Day of Eid-El-Fitr).
“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, he also wishes all Muslims a happy Eid-El-Fitr. May Allah (SWT) accept our religious deeds, amin.”
This is coming following a declaration by Haramain Sharifain, an Islamic agency in Saudi Arabia, that fasting in the month of Ramadan will last for 30 days.
Muslims faithful across the world on April 30 began the fasting exercise by abstaining from eating, drinking, and any form of sexual relationship from dawn till dusk.
Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam.
Ramadan can run for either 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of a new crescent moon according to the Islamic as laid down by the Holy Quran.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government had announced Wednesday and Thursday as public holidays.
 has announced that that fasting in the month of Ramadan will last 30 days adding Muslim faithful in){kind=link}