President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday sent his greetings to all Muslim faithful as the 30-day Ramadan fast begins Thursday.
The President said fasting was not merely meant to stay hungry or thirsty, but an opportunity to strive for inner purification and self-accountability.
In a statement by his spokesman Garba Shehu, Buhari said “It is meant to inculcate righteousness and discipline.”
He enjoined fasting Muslims to increase their love for humanity, acts of charity, kindness, generosity and gratitude.
Leader of Muslims in Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, last night declared Thursday as the first day of Ramadan, 1439 AH.
The Sultan said the commencement of the fast followed reports of sighting of the moon across various states of the federation which marked the end of the month of Shaaban 1439 AH.
The Ramadan moon, according to the religious leader, was sighted in Gombe, Sokoto, Zamfara, Bauchi, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Minna and Dutse.
