FG Extends Public Holiday to July 7
The federal government has added Thursday July 7, 2016, to the two-day public holiday it initially declared for the celebration of Eid-el fitr, following the non-appearance of the moon as at Monday night, signifying that the Ramadan fast will go on for one more day
.
Abdulrahman Dambazau, minister of interior, made the declaration on behalf of the federal government in a statement on Tuesday, which was signed by Bassey Okon Akpanyung, permanent secretary of the ministry.
“This declaration followed the directive by the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, to the effect that the Ramadan fast continues on Tuesday as a result of the non-sighting of the moon,” read the statement.
It urged Nigerians to use this period of sober reflections to ensure harmony, unity and peaceful co-existence, while giving full support to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in his sustained effort to pursue socio-economic and political growth of the nation.
The federal government earlier declared Tuesday and Wednesday as public holidays, as NSCIA initially expected the moon to be sighted between Sunday and Monday.
