The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has directed Muslims across Nigeria to begin sighting the new crescent moon marking the commencement of Ramadan 1447 AH on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

In a statement signed by the Wazirin Sokoto and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Prof. Sambo Wali Junaidu, the monarch urged Muslim faithful to observe the sky after sunset and promptly report any confirmed sighting of the crescent moon to their respective village or district heads or directly to the Sultanate Council through designated communication channels.

The directive forms part of the traditional Islamic process used to determine the official commencement of the holy month, which is based on verified moon sightings.

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is observed by Muslims worldwide as a sacred period dedicated to fasting, prayers, spiritual reflection, charity, and community service.

The month also commemorates the period when the Holy Qur’an is believed to have been revealed to Prophet Muhammad.

The annual observance, regarded as one of the five pillars of Islam, typically lasts between 29 and 30 days, depending on the lunar cycle and confirmed crescent sightings.

Meanwhile, islamic leaders and scholars under the umbrella of the League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland have announced Wednesday, February 18, 2026, as the commencement date for this year’s Ramadan fasting.

The decision was contained in a communiqué presented to journalists by the Grand Mufti of Yorubaland, Sheikh AbdulRasaq AbdulAzeez Ishola, following the League’s meeting held in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The meeting was attended by prominent Islamic clerics, including the President-General of the League, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere Bello; the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh AbdulGaniy Agbotomokekere; the Chief Imam of Ogun State, Sheikh Saadulah Bamgbola; the Chief Imam of Osun State, Sheikh Musa Rabiu Animasahun; and the Grand Chief Imam of Ondo State, Sheikh AbdulHakeem Yayi Akorede, alongside other scholars from the six South-West states.

According to the communiqué, the decision to fix February 18 as the first day of Ramadan 1447 AH was based on astronomical calculations and resolutions adopted by several international Islamic bodies advocating the unification of the Hijri calendar.

The League cited resolutions of the Unified Hijri Calendar Committee meeting held in Istanbul in 1978, decisions of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, and outcomes of international conferences on lunar month confirmation and Hijri calendar harmonisation held in Paris in 2012 and Istanbul in 2016.

It explained that astronomical data indicate that the conjunction of the Ramadan moon will occur at 12:01pm UTC on Tuesday, February 17, corresponding to 1:01pm Nigerian time, thereby making Wednesday, February 18, the first day of fasting.

“The first day of Ramadan 1447 AH, Insha Allah, will be Wednesday, February 18, 2026,” the communiqué stated.

The League further noted that Ramadan would last 30 days this year, stressing that crescent sighting would not be possible on March 18, identified as the 29th day of Ramadan.

It added that the astronomical conjunction for Shawwal is expected to occur on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at about 2:23pm Nigerian time, confirming that fasting would complete a full 30 days before the Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

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