AS THE COUNTDOWN to Ramadan 2025 begins, the Nigerian Muslim community is gearing up for the annual moon-sighting exercise, a significant event that marks the beginning of the sacred fasting month.
The Explainer gathered that the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has officially called on Muslims to watch for the Ramadan crescent from Friday, 28 February 2025.
The call was conveyed through a statement signed by the NSCIA’s Secretary General, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, urging the faithful to await an official announcement regarding the commencement of Ramadan 1446 AH.
“The council hereby enjoins Muslims all over the country to be on the lookout for the Ramadan crescent on the night of Friday, 28th of February 2025 and await the official announcement by the President-General of NSCIA on the commencement of the 1446 AH Ramadan fast,” the statement read.
The anticipation of Ramadan has also prompted adjustments in school calendars, with Bauchi and Kebbi states announcing a temporary closure of schools to accommodate the fasting period.
The Explainer gathered that, according to the Bauchi State Ministry of Education’s approved calendar, schools will shut down from 26 February 2025 and will remain closed until after the Eid celebrations, with classes resuming on 6 April 2025. Similarly, Kebbi State has revised its academic calendar, declaring that the second term will end on 28 February 2025, and the Ramadan break will officially start on 1 March 2025. Schools in Kebbi are expected to resume for the third term on 7 April 2025.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Kebbi State Governor, Ahmed Idris, confirmed the adjustment, citing the need to accommodate the religious obligations of students and teachers observing the fast.
The Explainer learned that the NSCIA’s directive aligns with the recommendations of the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC), which plays a crucial role in determining the start of Ramadan based on verified crescent sightings.
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“Consequent upon the advice of the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC), the President-General enjoins the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to search for the crescent of Ramadan 1446 AH immediately after sunset on Friday, 28th February 2025, which is equivalent to 29th Sha’aban 1446 AH,” the statement noted.
“If the crescent is sighted by Muslims of impeccable character on the said evening, then His Eminence would declare Saturday, 1st March 2025 as the first day of Ramadan 1446 AH. If, however, the crescent is not sighted that day, then, Sunday, 2nd March 2025, automatically becomes the first of Ramadan, 1446 AH.”
Muslims across the country have been urged to contact the moon-sighting committee with credible reports of the crescent’s appearance.
Beyond the spiritual significance of the holy month, the economic challenges facing many Nigerians have also been highlighted. Oloyede, in the NSCIA’s statement, called on well-to-do Muslims to extend acts of charity to the less privileged, particularly in light of the current economic hardship.
“The council, once again, admonishes traders to neither hoard food products nor unduly hike the prices of consumer goods during the period of the fast,” the statement added.
With food inflation remaining a pressing issue, there are growing concerns over the affordability of staple goods during Ramadan. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), food inflation in Nigeria stood at 26.08% in January 2025, year-on-year, exacerbating the financial strain on many households.
