’Ramadan will end on Wednesday’, Says space agency.
The Federal Government has declared Wednesday and Thursday as public holidays to mark the 2021 Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
The Minister of Interior, Ra’uf Aregbesola, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government yesterday.
A statement issued by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Shu’aib Belgore, quoted Aregbesola as congratulating the Muslim faithful on the occasion.
He also called all Nigerians, at home and abroad to use the period of this years Eid-el-Fitr celebration to pray for peace, stability and economic transformation in the land.
The minister also called on all security agencies in the country to be more courageous and patriotic to surmount the ongoing battle against resurging insecurity and activities of criminal elements in Nigeria, while wishing all Muslims a happy and peaceful Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, and the holiday begins according to the sighting of the new moon.
Meanwhile, the National Space Research and Development Agency, (NASRDA) has said the appearance of the next astronomical lunar crescent, which signifies the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, is on Wednesday, 12 May 2021.
According to the agency, “If this occurs as predicted by the Nigerian space agency, Eid-el-Fitr festival, which comes a day after the end of Ramadan, will be celebrated by Nigerian Muslims on Thursday”.
This is, however, subject to approval and announcement by the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, (NSCIA), which is headed by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Saad Abubakar Iii.
NASRDA, in a statement issued by its spokesman, Dr. Felix Ale, yesterday, said from its calculations, the agency found out that the conjunction of the moon will occur at about 8:00 pm today, Tuesday, May 11, 2021; while the first astronomical lunar crescent will only appear in Nigeria on Wednesday 12th May, at about 8:30 am.
Ale further stated that the very first appearance of the lunar crescent could not be seen on Wednesday morning with unaided eyes because of its size and barrier caused by light. He, however, said it will only be visible in the evening of Wednesday, between 6:21 pm and 7:42 pm, after sunset in Nigeria.
The agency also said that Jos, in Plateau State and Kaduna State would experience the crescent from between 6:38 pm and 7:14 pm, and between 6:44 pm and 7:21 pm respectively. According to its calculations, the sunset and moonset in both States will be 6:38 pm and 7:19 pm and 6:44 pm and 7:26 pm respectively. The crescent will be sighted in Enugu from 6:38 pm to 7:15 pm, with sunset and moonset at about 6:38 pm and 7:20 pm respectively, while it will be lastly sighted in Birnin Kebbi between 7:00 pm to 7:37 pm, it added.
All other States of the federation will experience the lunar crescent between the estimated time of 6:21 pm and 7:42 pm on Wednesday, 12 May, according to NASRDA.
The space agency also said that all results released by the agency show precise date, appearance time of the first crescent, time of sunset as well as moonset for all the State capitals and the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), on Wednesday, 12 May.
