Sokoto, March 17, 2026 – Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, has urged Muslims in Nigeria to begin searching for the crescent moon that will mark the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Muslim month of Shawwal.
The Sultanate Council of Sokoto gave the advice in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Wazirin Sokoto and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sambo Wali Junaidu.
The statement said Wednesday, March 18, 2026, would correspond to the 29th day of Ramadan 1447AH, had been set aside for the sighting of the new moon of Shawwal.
The statement reads: “The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, urges Muslims throughout the country to look out for the new moon of Shawwal on Wednesday, March 18, 2026,” the statement said.
“Muslims who sight the new moon should report the sighting to the nearest District or Village Head, who will in turn communicate the information to His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, for further announcement.”
The council gave the following phone numbers as the dedicated lines to call to report credible moon sightings directly to the Sultan’s office.
The numbers are 0803 715 7100, 0806 630 3077, 0803 596 5322, 0803 594 5903 and 0706 714 6900.
The sighting of the Shawwal crescent marks the end of the Ramadan fast and heralds the celebration of Eid al-Fitr by Muslims worldwide.
