Date: 2013-07-09

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan is to start tomorrow in Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar announced last night, hours after most Muslim countries in the Middle East made a similar announcement.

In a statement, chairman of the Sultanate Council's advisory committee on religious affairs Professor Sambo Junaid said no report of sighting of the new moon was received from the various moon sighting committees across the country.

"Tomorrow, Tuesday 9th of July, 2013 is therefore the 30th day of Sha'aban, 1434 AH. Wednesday, 10th of July is therefore the 1st day of Ramadan,1434 AH," he added.

Also last night, Secretary-general of the council Prof. Ishaq Oloyede announced that the new moon had not been sighted anywhere in the country.

"Reports across the world including Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia did have it that the moon has not been sighted. Also nowhere in Nigeria was the moon sighted as the moon sighting committee did not receive any report that the moon has been sighted," he said.

"Islam is a religion of guidance and being regulated by the laid down rules. Since the moon was not sighted, Ramadan fasts commences on Wednesday."

The Saudi Royal Court had earlier announced that Ramadan will start tomorrow in Saudi Arabia.

Other Muslim countries in the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Egypt, also said Ramadan starts tomorrow.

The beginning of the month depends on the first sighting of the crescent moon. As the Islamic lunar year is 354 or 355 days long, Ramadan starts approximately 10 days earlier in each Gregorian year.