The Sultan of Sokoto has declared Friday, March 20, 2026, as Eid-el-Fitr following the non-sighting of the Shawwal moon across Nigeria.
The Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, who is also the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has officially announced that the 2026 Eid-el-Fitr celebration will commence on Friday. The declaration followed the non-sighting of the Shawwal 1447AH crescent moon on Wednesday, which marked the 29th day of the holy month of Ramadan.
According to the Sultanate Council, in collaboration with the National Moon Sighting Committee, Thursday, March 19, 2026, will be observed as the 30th day of Ramadan to complete the lunar cycle. The decision was communicated in a statement issued by Sambo Wali Junaidu, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs for the Sultanate Council.
The committee stated that after extensive monitoring across the country, no credible reports of the new moon were received. “The Sultan of Sokoto has approved the declaration of Friday, March 20, as the day for Eid-el-Fitr,” the statement noted.
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