The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, under the leadership of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has announced that Ramadan fasting may continue on Sunday because the sighting of the crescent which indicates the end of the month of Ramadan has not been seen in Nigeria.
NSCIA made this announcement in a statement signed by the Secretary-General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, on Saturday.
He also urged Muslim faithfuls to search for the crescent of Shawwal on the 29th of Ramadan, stressing, “If Muslims sight the crescent in accordance with the moon sighting and verification standards, then His Eminence would declare Sunday, March 30, 2025, as the 1st of Shawwal and the day of Idul Fitr.”
The statement read, “The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, felicitates the Nigerian Muslim Ummah and the entire Muslim world on the auspicious occasion of the 1446 A.H. Idul Fitr.
“We beseech Allah to grant everyone the opportunity to witness many more of it in good health and divine guidance. In the spirit of Ramadan, Muslims are reminded that Zakatul Fitr is a compulsory food levy imposed on privileged Muslims to be given to the less privileged in society.
“The Council, therefore, appeals to all concerned Muslims to ensure that they comply and do so in good time. The stipulated practice is to give out the prescribed measurement to beneficiaries in the last two days of Ramadan, but before the Eid prayer.
“Moreover, consequent upon the advice of the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC), the President-General enjoins the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to search for the crescent of Shawwal 1446 A.H. immediately after sunset on Saturday, 29th Ramadan 1446 A.H., which is equivalent to 29th March 2025.”
The Sultan further stated that if the moon is not seen, Monday, March 31st, 2025, becomes Eid al-Fitr.
He also advised all Muslims to pray diligently to Allah at the end of Ramadan for peace, security, and progress in Nigeria.
Remember that Saudi Arabia said on Saturday that the crescent of Shawwal had been sighted.
It also stated that Eid al-Fitr, which marks the start of the new Islamic month, will henceforth be celebrated on Sunday, March 30, 2025.
This announcement was published on Haramin’s official Facebook page, which serves as an official platform for the Muslim community globally.
“The crescent moon for the month of Shawwal 1446 was sighted in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, Eid Al Fitr will be celebrated on Sunday, March 30, 2025.”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
