Ramadan Begins Wednesday as Sultan Confirms Crescent Sighting
The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has announced the sighting of the crescent moon marking the start of Ramadan 1447AH, declaring Wednesday, February 18, 2026, as the first day of fasting in Nigeria.
The announcement follows nationwide reports of credible moon sightings received and verified by the Sultanate Council on Tuesday evening, in line with Islamic tradition that the commencement of Ramadan is determined by the physical sighting of the lunar crescent at the end of Sha’aban.
Earlier, the Sultan had directed Muslims across the country to observe the sky after sunset on February 17 and report any sightings through designated channels for authentication before a formal declaration.
With the confirmed sighting, Nigerian Muslims are to begin the obligatory dawn-to-sunset fast on Wednesday, joining millions of faithful worldwide in observing the holy month devoted to prayer, self-discipline, charity and spiritual reflection.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and its start date varies annually because the calendar is about 10–11 days shorter than the Gregorian year and depends on moon visibility.
The Sultan, as the spiritual leader of Muslims in Nigeria, traditionally makes the official proclamation on the beginning and end of Ramadan after consultations with the National Moon Sighting Committee and Islamic scholars.
