Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs

06/05/2026

The 2026 First Council Meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) under the theme “Religious Literacy for National Cohesion” kicks off this morning in Abuja.

The Opening Session is co-chaired by His Eminence, the President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Sultan of Sokoto alongside the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

20/03/2026

Eid Mubārak 🎊

Taqabbal Allāh minnā wa minkum.

19/03/2026

‎The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Verily, there is a gate in Paradise called al-Rayyan, through which only those who fasted will enter on the Day of Resurrection.”

‎O Allāh, grant this exclusive VIP gift to every believer that fasted this Ramadan.

‎Āmīn. ⁦‪ ‬⁩

19/03/2026

As Ramadan winds down, is it for you the end of worship and the grand generosity the world witnessed in the Holy Month? No!

Islam isn’t temporary piety but continuous devotion to Allāh.

19/03/2026

Ramadan was never meant to stay forever. It was meant to prepare you for the rest of the year. The real test of the month is not how we fasted—but how we live after it.

Ramadan teaches consistency in prayer, in restraint, and in character.

If Ramadan made you more truthful, keep it.
If it made you more patient, protect it.
If it brought you closer to Allah, don’t let go.

18/03/2026

If Ramadan didn’t change you, it only passed you. Ramadan is not meant to be counted by days, but measured by change.

Don’t rush out of Ramadan without reflection. Ask yourself:

What habit changed?
What value grew?
What sin was left behind?”

Let Ramadan leave a mark!

18/03/2026

SEARCHING FOR THE SHAWWAL CRESCENT ON WEDNESDAY: THE EVIL OF WAR AND THE IMPERATIVE OF PRAYING FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE

As the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) concludes arrangements to look for the crescent of Shawwal 1447 AH, we invite all Muslims in Nigeria to join us in the search on Wednesday, 29th Ramadan 1447 AH, which is equivalent to 18th March 2026.

If the crescent is sighted, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of NSCIA would be informed either directly or through the already advertised Muslim traditional rulers or members of the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC) for further action. If the crescent is not sighted on Wednesday, the ‘Id shall be observed on Friday. Therefore, all Muslims are enjoined to discharge their religious obligations including paying Zakatul Fitr on behalf of all their family members and dependants.

13/05/2025

The Islamic bond “Sukuk” has emerged as a critical funding tool for Nigeria, attracting both domestic and foreign investors.

Nigeria has made steady progress with Sukuk financing, which has grown to N300 billion for supporting infrastructure development.

The Nation Newspaper JUST IN: FG repays first N100bn Sukuk

29/03/2025

1446 A.H. ‘IDUL FITR GOODWILL MESSAGE AND FELICITATIONS

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, felicitates the Nigerian Muslim Ummah and the entire Muslim world on the auspicious occasion of the 1446 A.H. ‘Idul Fitr. We beseech Allah to grant everyone the opportunity to witness many more of it in good health and divine guidance.

In the spirit of Ramadan, Muslims are reminded that Zakatul Fitr is a compulsory food levy imposed on privileged Muslims, to be given to the less privileged in the society. The Council, therefore, appeals to all concerned Muslims to ensure that they comply and do so in good time. The stipulated practice is to give out the prescribed measurement to beneficiaries in the last two days of Ramadan, but before the ‘Id prayer.

Moreover, consequent upon the advice of the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC), the President-General enjoins the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to search for the crescent of Shawwal 1446 A.H. immediately after sunset on Saturday, 29th Ramadan 1446 A.H. which is equivalent to 29th March 2025.

It must be noted that, according to scientific calculations, the expected time for the conjunction of Shawwal moon in Nigeria is Saturday, 29th March 2025 at 11:58 a.m.

That notwithstanding, as Islamic tradition stipulates, Muslims are enjoined to search for the crescent of Shawwal on the 29th of Ramadan.

If Muslims sight the crescent in accordance with the moon sighting and verification standards, then His Eminence would declare Sunday, 30th March 2025 as the 1st of Shawwal and the day of ‘Idul Fitr. However, if the crescent is not sighted that day,
then Monday, 31st March 2025, automatically becomes the day of ‘Idul Fitr.

In addition to the established traditional and Islamic leaders in each locality, the following members (in the attachment) of the National Moon-Sighting Committee (NMSC) can be contacted to report any credible and positive sighting of the crescent of Shawwal 1446 AH.

The Council encourages all Muslims to pray fervently to the Almighty Allah, especially during the concluding part of Ramadan, for peace, security and development in Nigeria. They are also admonished to pray for our leaders in line with the Hadith narrated by Abu Umamah, “Do not curse your leaders; invoke Allah to make them righteous, for their righteousness brings about your well-being as well” (Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Book 49, Hadith 3299.

‘Id Mubarak in advance!

Prof. Is-haq O. Oloyede, CON, FNAL
(Kuliyan Sokoto)
Secretary-General

21/03/2025

BEWARE OF MISCHIEF MAKERS AGAINST ISLAM AND ITS LEADERSHIP IN NIGERIA: NSCIA WARNS

The attention of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has been drawn to a piece of mischievous information being circulated in the social media that falsely ascribed to the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni a mischievous statement towards the now popular propaganda of Islamising Nigeria.

This spurious information is not only baseless and unfounded but also malicious. The Sultan, who was purported to have made the statement, has been out of the country for the last two weeks.

The Muslim community that the Sultan, by the grace of Almighty God, leads comprises of Muslims of all ethnic groups in Nigeria. It is therefore unimaginable
that such an eminent leader could have uttered such abominable statement.

While the Council would ordinarily not dignify the perpetrators of such a dastard act with a response, as it believes that every right-thinking person would discountenance it, we also see the need to educate the general public lest the information cause injury
to the undiscerning minds.

The Council calls on all Nigerians not only to disregard the publication but also to
always verify the veracity of any information that comes their way before consuming
and/ or circulating it.