THE Federal Government has extended the public holiday for the Eid-Al-Fitr celebration to Thursday.
On Sunday, it declared a two-day holiday – Tuesday and Wednesday – for the festivities.
However, the crescent moon was not sighted in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, meaning the Eid celebration will take place on Wednesday. This prompted the Federal Government to add an extra day to the already-declared public holiday.
“The Federal Government has approved Thursday 11th April 2024 as an additional public holiday to celebrate this year’s Eid-Al-Fitr,” the Ministry of Interior Permanent Secretary Aishetu Gogo Ndayako said in an early Tuesday statement.
“The Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji Ojo while congratulating the Muslim Ummah for a successful completion of a month of spiritual rejuvenation reiterates President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) firm commitment to providing a safe and prosperous Nigeria for all to thrive.”
On Tuesday, the Haramain on its official X handle said the crescent moon which signals the end of the Holy month of Ramadan was not sighted in Saudi Arabia.
“The crescent moon was NOT sighted in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, Eid-Al-Fitr will be celebrated on Wednesday, 10th April 2024,” the tweet read.
“It’s difficult to sight the Shawwal crescent due to the clouds,” the observer of the crescent Abdullah Al-Khudairi said in another post.
Later on, the Sultan of Sokoto and the President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, declared Wednesday, April 10th, as the day for Eid-Al-Fitr.
He said the declaration followed the report of the National Moon Sighting Committees across the country that confirmed that the moon has not been sighted.
“His Eminence, the Sultan felicitates with the Nigerian Muslim Ummah and wishes them Allah’s guidance and blessings,” the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs to the Sultanate Council Sambo Junaidu said.
“The Sultan, while urging the Muslim Ummah to continue to pray for peace, progress, and development of the country, also wishes all Muslims a happy Eid-Al-Fitr.”
