The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has directed Muslims nationwide to begin observation of the Ramadan crescent immediately after sunset on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, marking 29 Sha’aban 1447 A.H., in accordance with Islamic lunar calendar tradition.
The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of NSCIA, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, issued the directive through a press statement released on Sunday and signed by the Council’s Secretary-General, Prof Is-haq Oloyede.
The crescent represents the first visible phase of the new moon that signals the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting observed by Muslims globally. Its sighting traditionally determines when the month-long dawn-to-dusk fast begins.
According to the statement, the Council has coordinated with the National Moon Sighting Committee, working alongside the National Space Research and Development Agency, to establish monitoring facilities designed to verify and report credible crescent sightings across the country.
The NSCIA explained that if the crescent is successfully observed on Tuesday evening, the Sultan will formally declare Wednesday, February 18, 2026, as the first day of Ramadan 1447 A.H.
“If, however, the crescent is not sighted that day, then, Thursday, 19th February 2026, automatically becomes the first of Ramadan, 1447 A.H,” the statement read.
The Council noted that contact details of traditional rulers, religious leaders, and members of the National Moon Sighting Committee authorised to receive credible sighting reports are available on the NSCIA website at www.nscia.com.ng.
Moon sighting remains a central religious practice in determining the Islamic calendar, which follows lunar cycles rather than the Gregorian solar calendar used globally. The practice has been observed for centuries across Muslim communities worldwide, with local sighting committees established to ensure accurate verification before official declarations.
Beyond the Ramadan announcement, the NSCIA raised concerns over what it characterised as escalating Islamophobic rhetoric in Nigeria throughout the past year. The Council stated that Muslims have faced sustained efforts to associate the faith with criminality through narratives it described as “inconsistent with the reality of insecurity in Nigeria.”
The statement referenced multiple incidents involving Nigerians of varying religious backgrounds, alleging disparities in how such events are reported and perceived publicly.
“Muslims are being asked to denounce what they did not endorse, while those who have been victims of attacks are being framed as aggressors,” the statement read.
The Council further claimed that Muslims have become what it termed “double victims,” suffering both as primary targets of violent extremist groups and as subjects of negative public narratives.
“Muslims have thus become ‘double victims’ who are, on the one hand, the major victims of Boko Haram, banditry and Lakurawa, the most heinous of such incidents happening in the underreported gruesome murder of about 200 Muslims in Kwara state and also, on the other hand, the victims of negative narratives that erase Muslim suffering,” the statement added.
The NSCIA argued that a pattern of inequality persists because Christian communities receive international advocacy and protection, while Muslims appear without comparable external support.
“The culture of inequality against Muslims is being entrenched because Christians have foreign powers to defend them while Muslims appear defenceless,” the Council stated.
On election scheduling, the NSCIA disclosed receiving numerous complaints following the Independent National Electoral Commission’s announcement that the 2027 presidential election would take place during Ramadan, with gubernatorial elections potentially coinciding with Eid al-Fitr, the celebration marking the end of the holy month.
INEC had previously announced February 2027 as the scheduled period for the general elections, a timeline that overlaps with the anticipated Ramadan period based on Islamic calendar projections.
The Council said it is closely monitoring developments surrounding the election dates and expressed hope that INEC would undertake an immediate review of the schedule to accommodate religious observances.
Election scheduling conflicts with major religious festivals have previously sparked debate in Nigeria, a country where Islam and Christianity are practised by large segments of the population. Stakeholders have in past election cycles called for sensitivity in timing to enable maximum participation without imposing undue religious burden on voters.
The NSCIA urged Muslims to remain steadfast, peaceful, and committed to spiritual virtues throughout Ramadan despite what it described as prevailing challenges facing the community.
The Council offered prayers for peace, divine protection, and national tranquillity, and expressed hope that Allah would grant Muslims the grace to witness and complete the 1447 A.H. Ramadan in good health and devotion.
Ramadan remains one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is observed annually by Muslims worldwide through fasting, prayer, reflection, and community engagement. The month holds profound spiritual significance and serves as a period of heightened devotion, charity, and self-discipline for adherents of the faith
