The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar has called on Muslims across the country to look for the new moon of Ramadan today, June 5.
Secretary-General of NSCIA, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said in a statement yesterday that the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC) of the NSCIA, under the leadership of Mallam Hafiz Wali and Prof. Usman El-Nafaty, and Muhammad Yaseen Qamarud-Deen, advises the Sultan on the commencement of every lunar month and that the Sultan, as advised, always makes monthly declaration of the commencement of every lunar month.

“The NMSC had advised the President General that the crescent of Ramadan should be searched for on Sunday, June 5, 2016 equivalent to 29th Sha’ban 1437 AH. If the crescent is actually sighted by informed persons on Sunday night and His Eminence is so advised by the experts, he would declare Monday, June 6, 2016 as the first day of Ramadan. If, however, the crescent is not sighted on the night of Sunday, Tuesday, 7th June, 2016 automatically becomes the first of Ramadan, 1437 AH,” Oloyede said.
He enjoined Muslims across the country to be on the lookout, adding that in addition to established and traditional Islamic leaders in each locality, members of the NMSC can be contacted for information and clarification.