The National Moon Sighting Committee has agreed with the Southwest sub-committee on May 27 as the possible start date for this year’s Ramadan.
The two committees reached the agreement at an interaction in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital Thursday evening.
The interaction, which held at the Bodija headquarters of the Southwest League of Imams and Alfas, afforded the two committees to share experiences on moon sighting techniques and the need to harmonise start date for the fasting exercise.
At the end of the interaction, the two groups announced May 27 as the possible start date, based on guide by astronomical science indicating that the moon would be most likely sighted the day before.
Members of the national committee, led by its chairman, Dr Hafiz Wali, said they were in Ibadan to meet with the league and the Southwest moon sighting committee with a view to harmonising the start date of Ramadan between the northern and southern parts of Nigeria.
They said the move became necessary because it is only in Nigeria that the two parts of the country start and end Ramadan at different times due to moon sighting inaccuracies.
Dr. Wali said his committee would continue to work with regional committees to ensure that the Nigerian Muslim community operates a unified Ramadan process.
He promised to transmit the agreement to the Sultan of Sokoto, who set up the national committee to achieve harmony of process.
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