In a statement published by Vanguard, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has officially declared Wednesday, February 18, 2026, as the first day of Ramadan. The announcement followed the sighting of the crescent moon in various parts of the country, signaling the beginning of the holy month of fasting, prayer, and charity for millions of Nigerian Muslims.
Coincidentally, this year’s Ramadan begins on the same day as Ash Wednesday, the start of the Christian Lenten season. This rare alignment of the two major faiths’ fasting periods has prompted calls from religious and political leaders for a “unified season of prayer” to seek divine intervention for the nation’s security and economic challenges.
The Punch and Daily Post both confirmed the Sultan’s declaration. The Punch noted that “security has been beefed up around major prayer grounds,” while Daily Post focused on the “economic relief packages being distributed by state governments.” The Punch quoted the Sultan saying, “Let us use this period to pray for our leaders,” while Daily Post reported, “Governors are urging traders not to hike food prices during the fast.”
Echotitbits take: The convergence of Ramadan and Lent is a powerful symbolic moment for Nigerian unity. However, the economic reality is that food inflation typically spikes during these periods. The government’s ability to manage commodity prices over the next 30 days will be a major test.
Source: The Nation – https://thenationonlineng.net/breaking-sultan-declares-wednesday-as-first-day-of-ramadan-1447ah/, February 18, 2026
Photo credit: The Nation
