The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged Muslims across the country to watch for the new moon of Shawwal 1446AH on Saturday, March 29, 2025.
According to a statement signed and made available to journalists on Friday by the Waziri of Sokoto, Prof. Sambo Wali Junaidu, who also serves as the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs at the Sultanate Council, the sighting of the new moon will mark the end of Ramadan and the celebration of Eid el-Fitr.
According to the statement, “March 29 marks the 29th day of Ramadan 1446AH, making it the first possible day for moon sighting.
“The Sultan has urged anyone who sights the moon to report their observations through the designated phone numbers provided in the release.
The numbers for reporting moon sightings are 08037157100, 08066303077, 08035965322, 08035945903, and 07067146900.
Muslims are urged to engage in the moon sighting practice since it determines the official date for Eid celebrations. If the new moon is confirmed, it will mark the start of Shawwal and the end of the month-long Ramadan fast.
The announcement stated that the Sultanate Council would make the ultimate decision on Eid based on verifiable moon sightings.
![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")
