He has therefore declared Friday, 20th March 2026, as the day of Eid-El-Fitr.

The announcement was conveyed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Sultanate Council of Sokoto’s Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs in collaboration with the National Moon Sighting Committee.

According to the statement signed by the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, Sokoto, Sambo Wali Junaidu, no credible reports were received from any part of the country confirming the sighting of the Shawwal crescent on Wednesday, March 18, corresponding to the 29th day of Ramadan.

Based on the Sultan’s declaration, Muslims in the country would observe the Ramadan fast on Thursday, 19th March, 2026.

“Thursday, March 19, 2026, shall therefore be observed as the 30th day of Ramadan 1447AH,” the committee stated, in line with Islamic lunar calendar provisions.

Acting on the report, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, approved the declaration of Friday as Eid-el-Fitr day.

“His Eminence has accepted the report and accordingly declared Friday, 20th March 2026, as the first day of Shawwal 1447AH,” the statement added.

Gkingmusik reports that the announcement aligns with an earlier declaration by the authorities in Saudi Arabia, who have declared that the crescent moon for the month of Shawwal 1447 was not sighted today.

Saudi Arabia announced that the Eid-el-Fitr celebration marking the end of the Ramadan fast will commence on Friday.

The announcement was made in a statement published by the Saudi Press Agency on behalf of the country’s Supreme Court.

According to the statement, the decision followed the completion of 30 days of Ramadan, in line with Islamic lunar calendar traditions.

The timing of Eid-el-Fitr is traditionally determined by the sighting of the crescent moon, which signals the end of the Ramadan fasting period.

Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and requires Muslims to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and other physical needs during daylight hours.

The period is also marked by acts of charity, with believers encouraged to support the less privileged.