The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has officially declared Wednesday, February 18, 2026, as the first day of the holy month of Ramadan 1447 AH.
The announcement was made on Tuesday evening, February 17, 2026, following the sighting of the crescent moon of Ramadan across several parts of the country, including Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara and other northern states.
In his nationwide broadcast, the Sultan urged all Muslims to begin fasting from Wednesday, engage in increased acts of worship, charity (Zakatul-Fitr and Sadaqah), recitation of the Qur’an, and prayers for peace, unity and progress in Nigeria.
He said: “The moon of Ramadan has been sighted. Therefore, Wednesday, February 18, 2026, shall be the first day of the blessed month of Ramadan 1447 AH. I call on all Muslims to welcome this sacred month with sincere repentance, devotion to Allah, kindness to neighbours, and support for the less privileged.”
Subscribe To The Best Team In Conservative, Business, Technology, Lifestyle And Digital News Realtime! support@ddnewsonline.com
The Sultan also prayed for the safety of Nigerian pilgrims, stability in the country, and an end to insecurity, economic hardship and division.
The announcement aligns with reports from moon-sighting committees in various states and has been widely welcomed by Muslim faithful across Nigeria.
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
Send tips to: adeyemi@ddnewsonline.com | 08168555497