Sa’ad Abubakar III, Sultan of Sokoto has declared today Thursday as the first day for the beginning of the Ramadan fasting in Nigeria.

Mr Abubakar announced the sighting of the new crescent in Sokoto on Wednesday in a broadcast.

He said the new moon was sighted in various places across the country that includeed Sokoto, Niger, Yobe, Port Harcourt, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa and other areas.

The Sultan said reports of the moon sighting were received from Muslim leaders and organizations across the country.

“Upon due verification and authentication by the national moon sighting committee and states committees’ confirmation, as well as routine scrutiny, the sighting of the new moon of Ramadan signifies the end of Sha’aban 1439 AH.

”In accordance with Islamic law, Muslim Ummah are to commence fasting on Thursday accordingly.”

He enjoined all Muslims to devote themselves fully to the worship of Allah throughout the holy month, and use the period to pray for the progress, peace and prosperity of the nation.

“We further called on Nigerians to continue to live peacefully with one another irrespective of religious and tribal difference,” he said.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar in which Muslims observe one month fasting.

Fasting in the month of Ramadan, one of the five pillars of Islam, is a compulsory religious obligation on all adult Muslims.

NAN