ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced an extension of the public holiday for Eid-El-Fitr to include Thursday, April 11th, 2024, following an unexpected turn in the lunar calendar observations.
Initially, the government had declared Tuesday and Wednesday as holidays for the Muslim festivities.
The extension comes in response to the non-sighting of the crescent moon in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, which determines the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Eid-El-Fitr.
Aishetu Ndayako, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, conveyed the government’s decision in a statement early Tuesday.
She highlighted that the extension was approved to ensure that the Muslim Ummah could adequately celebrate Eid-El-Fitr, marking the conclusion of a month dedicated to fasting, prayer, and reflection.
The statement also included words from the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, who extended congratulations to the Muslim community.
He reiterated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to fostering a safe and prosperous environment for all Nigerians.
The adjustment in the holiday schedule follows a declaration by the Haramain, on its official X handle, that the crescent moon, signaling Ramadan’s end, was not visible 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 detailed.
Abdullah Al-Khudairi, an observer, attributed the difficulty in sighting the Shawwal crescent to cloud coverage.
Adding to the religious observances, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, who also serves as the President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), confirmed Wednesday, April 10th, as the official day for Eid-Fitri celebrations in Nigeria.
This decision was based on reports from National Moon Sighting Committees across Nigeria, which also found the moon to be unsighted.
