Eid al-Fitr: Nigeria extends holidays as cresent moon fails to show

crescent-moon ramadan nigeria eid al-fitr newsroomng — *A committee was set up to look out for the crescent-shaped moon on Monday night. They didn’t see it.*

Monday made it the 29th day of the Ramadan fasting period at least for Nigerian Muslims.

President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Sa’ad Abubakar III (the Sultan of Sokoto) inaugurated a committee to sight the crescent Shawwal moon.

Had the committee sighted the moon on Monday night, Tuesday (July 5) would have been the proper day to celebrate Eid al-Fitr.

“If, however, the crescent is not sighted on Monday night,” says Is-haq Oloyede who’s secretary general of NSCIA, “Wednesday, July 6, 2016 automatically becomes the first of Shawwal 1437 AH (‘Id day).”

It means Eid al-Fitr would be celebrated on Wednesday, meaning Muslims would party hard that day and be expected at work the following day.

Someone said that’s one of the reasons, a minor one anyways, President Muhammadu Buhari extended the holidays till Thursday.

Besides, the moon was not sighted on Monday night.

Buhari had declared Tuesday and Wednesday as public holidays apparently hoping the celebrations would fall on Tuesday so Muslims could rest the next day before resuming work on Thursday.

happy holidays! A Nigerian family takes selfies during an Islamic festival. — *Happy holidays! A Nigerian family takes selfies during an Islamic festival.*

Here’s the statement from the Nigerian government on the Eid al-Fitr holidays extension.

“Following the directive by the President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, to the effect that the Ramadan fast continues today (Tuesday) as a result of the non-sighting of the moon, the Federal Government of Nigeria has declared Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th July, 2016 as Public Holiday.

“In making the declaration on behalf of the Government, the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, urged Nigerians to use the period for sober reflections to ensure harmony, unity and peaceful co-existence, while giving full support to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in his sustained effort to pursue socio-economic and political growth of the nation.

“A statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Bassey Akpanyung said the Minister wishes Nigerians a peaceful celebration.”

We think most people would give Buhari a peck in the cheek for this extension. No work for the greater part of this week!

That could mean more family time!.