The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has said the lunar crescent of Ramadan will appear in Nigeria on May 26, signifying the commencement of Ramadan on Saturday, May 27.

But the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar will have to announce for Muslims in the country to commence the fasting, according to Islamic tradition.

In a press statement Tuesday, NASDRA’s Head of Media and Corporate Communications Dr. Felix Ale disclosed that the appearance of the Ramadan crescent will be recorded between hours of 6:49 pm and 7.54pm on May 26.

He also said the conjunction of the moon would occur at about 8.44pm on 25th May 2017.

According to him, Yola, Maiduguri, Gombe, Calabar and Port Harcourt will be the first to witness lunar crescent at about 6.04pm concurrently to 7.54pm while Sokoto state will be the last to see the crescent at about 7.24pm to 7.54pm.

All other states of the federation will experience the lunar crescent between the estimated time of 6.04pm and 7.54pm on the 26th May 2017, the NASDRA spokesman said.

He added that the South West states will experience the first lunar crescent between 7.15pm to 7.53pm; the sun will set in the southwest states between 6.51pm and 6.58pm while the moon will set at about 7.45pm and 7.53pm.

“In the South East, the first lunar crescent will be experienced between 6.49pm and 7.36pm; the sun will set between 6.26pm and 6.41pm while the moon will set about 7.19pm and 7.36pm.

“In Abuja, the first Lunar crescent will appear between 7.12pm and 7.42pm, with sunset at about 6.48pm and the moon will set at about 7.42pm. In Kano, the appearance of the first Lunar crescent will be experienced between 7.09pm and 7.39pm, with sunset and moonset at about 6.46pm and 7.39pm respectively.

“The first lunar crescent will appear in Katsina between the hours of 7.14pm to 7.44pm with sunset and moonset at about 6.51pm and 7.44pm”, he said.