Sultan declares today first day of Ramadan

Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, has directed Muslims all over the country to commence the 1434 AH Ramadan fast today, Wednesday July 10.

He spoke, yesterday, in furtherance to the press release, Sunday, by the Sultanate's Advisory Committee Chairman, Prof. Sambo Wali, where he urged Muslims to be on the look out for the new moon on Monday July 8.

He said if the moon was not sighted, Sha'ban, which is eighth month of Islamic calendar, should be counted till Tuesday July 9 to make up 30, while Ramadan automatically commences on Wednesday July 10.

In a chat with newsmen yesterday, in Sokoto, Sariki Musulumi of Nigeria explained how hard he and all the committees charged with the responsibility of moon-sighting and collation of information worked on Monday evening to pass useful information to Muslims in the country.
He immediately gave directive that contrary to wide expectation, the moon was not sighted anywhere and Ramadan would not commence until Wednesday, July 10.

The Sultan said: "We waited yesterday (Monday) till 11.30p.m. and it was when we were convinced that nothing, at that time, was going to come up with regard to moon-sighting that we had to close.

"Since the moon was not sighted yesterday, there was nothing more to be done except to count Sha'ban till today (yesterday) July 9 to make up 30 days and then count Ramadan from tomorrow (today), which means fasting in the holy month starts Wednesday July 10 (today)."

Pray for Nigeria —Jonathan

Meanwhile, as adherents of the Islamic faith begin Ramadan fast today, President Goodluck Jonathan has urged them to offer special prayers for Nigeria.
In a statement by Dr. Reuben Abati, the President's Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Jonathan also called on all Nigerians, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, to strive to imbibe the virtues of piety, self-discipline, tolerance, equity, fairness and sympathy for the less privileged, which the Ramadan fast promotes.

President Jonathan also advised all persons of the faith, who might have been "misled by extremists and agents of international terrorism into taking up arms against their fellow countrymen, women and children to re-open their minds during this Ramadan season to Islam's true lessons of love and peaceful co-existence with others."

Mark, Ekweremadu, others

Also felicitating with Muslims on the Ramadan fast are Senate President, David Mark, Deputy Senate President Ike  Ekweremadu, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed  of Kwara State, and Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State.
Other are Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, Deputy Governor Yomi Awoniyi of Kogi State and Senator Bukola Saraki.