Sultan Declares Wednesday The First Day of Ramadan 2026 in Nigeria

Sultan has declared Wednesday the first day of Ramadan 2026 in Nigeria.

Philips News reports that the Palace of the Sultanate Council of Sokoto has announced that Muslims in Nigeria will begin the Ramadan fast on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

The palace of the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, in a statement released on Tuesday night, said reports confirming the sighting of the new moon were received from different parts of the country.

According to the statement, the moon sighting marks the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, a period during which Muslims around the world observe fasting as one of the five pillars of Islam.

“Reports of the sighting of the moon were received from various locations across the country,” the statement said.

Based on the confirmed reports, the palace declared Wednesday, February 18, 2026, as the first day of Ramadan 1447AH in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Philips News reports that Ramadan is a sacred month in Islam during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, engage in prayers, and carry out acts of charity and devotion.

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and is compulsory for healthy adult Muslims. However, exemptions are granted to young children, the sick, travellers, and women who are pregnant, nursing, or menstruating.

The sighting of the crescent moon is a long-standing tradition used to determine the beginning of Ramadan and the major Islamic festivals of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

During the holy month, working hours and school schedules are often shortened in many Muslim-majority countries to allow more time for worship and family activities.

More than 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide are expected to observe the month of fasting from sunrise to sunset each day.