Muslims in Nigeria began a month-long fast on Sunday to mark Ramadan, the holy month of the Islamic calendar, their chief cleric said.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Saad Abubakar, who is the spiritual leader of Nigeria’s 70 million-strong Muslim population, announced the start of fasting after the sighting of the moon Saturday night.
“Having received impeccable reports of moon sighting in various parts of Nigeria, I hereby declare Sunday as the beginning of the month of Ramadan,” Abubakar said in a radio broadcast.
Muslims all over the world observe fasting in the ninth month in the Islamic calendar when they abstain from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse between dawn and sunset.