On March 30, 2025, Nigerian Muslims joined millions of other faithful all over the world to celebrate the Eid el-Fitri, marking the end of the Ramadan fast and the first day of Shawwal 1446 AH. It is a major festival in the Islamic calendar. Its significance is rooted in the spirit of sacrifice and selflessness as demonstrated by Prophet Ibrahim (AS) who was commanded by the Almighty Allah to offer his only son, Ishmael, as a sacrificial material. In total obedience, the prophet laid his son on the altar for the immolation. But Allah stopped him at the point of taking his life and in the boy’s place, he provided a ram for the ritual. Herein lies the importance of the occasion.
The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Dr. Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Saturday night issued the proclamation ending the exercise after confirming the sighting of the new crescent of Shawwal in various parts of the country. He said moon sighting reports were received from the Emirs of Borno, Zazzau, Daura, Kwandu, and Muslim leaders and organisations across the country, a few hours after Saudi Arabia announced the sighting of the moon in that country.
The sultan urged Muslims to uphold the lessons learnt during Ramadan and to sustain their prayers for peace across the country. He also called on them to pray for the nation’s leaders.
While encouraging wealthy individuals to continue assisting the less privileged, as practised during Ramadan, he emphasised the importance of religious tolerance and unity among Nigerians. The religious leader also prayed for Allah to strengthen leaders in their commitment to guiding the nation.
To mark the festivities, the federal government declared Monday, March 31 and Tuesday, April 1, 2025, as public holidays.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Magdalene Ajani.
The minister congratulated all Muslims for the successful completion of the fasting in the holy month of Ramadan.
He admonished them to “embrace the virtues of self-discipline, compassion, generosity and peace, emphasising the importance of love, forgiveness, and solidarity in building a harmonious society. Tunji-Ojo also enjoined all Nigerians to use this festive period to pray for peace, stability, and prosperity of the nation and expressed hope that the joyous occasion of Eid-el-Fitr would inspire unity and cooperation across religious and ethnic lines.
“Dr. Tunji-Ojo also encouraged citizens to celebrate safely and responsibly, while remembering the less privileged through acts of kindness and charity, in keeping with the true spirit of the festival.“
On behalf of the Federal Government, he extended heartfelt Eid Mubarak wishes to all Muslim faithful and prayed that the blessings of the season bring happiness, success, and fulfillment to everyone,” the statement read.
There are more reasons than one to salute the Muslim Ummah on this year’s celebration. It is an occasion for universal show of love and peace as well as extending support to the needy and the underprivileged in our midst which is the ultimate objective of this great religion.
In fulfilling one of the five pillars of Islam which the holy pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia represents, we call on thousands of Nigerian Muslims on this year’s exercise to pray for their fatherland. Nigeria is in dire need of peace and stability.
In the past decade and half, Nigerians in virtually all parts of the country have been held captive by criminal elements operating as bandits, kidnappers, terrorists, etc. These undesirable characters have not only made lives unbearable for everyone but also exacerbated the already bad situation.
The hunger in the land is partly blamed on the inability of the farmers to access the farmlands to carry out their normal activities such as harvesting their crops for onward transportation to various markets. These hoodlums lack love for their fellow human beings. The occasion calls for a change of attitude. We call on these bloodthirsty and misguided elements to sheathe their swords and embrace peace in the spirit of love and good neighbourliness.
The challenges posed by poverty and insecurity, among others, should as well ginger the well-to-do in our midst to extend their care and love especially to those who have been forced to become refugees in their fatherland.
The festivity also provides an opportunity for the Muslim Ummah to demonstrate their fear of the Supreme Being, as well as love for their neighbours as they love themselves because no Muslim is a true believer unless he wishes for others what he wishes for himself.
In the same vein, we call well-to-do Nigerians and our leaders to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice in order to ameliorate the pervasive hardship and grinding poverty that have been the lot of Nigerians in recent times. There is also an urgent need by our leaders at all levels of government to bridge the gulf between the haves and the have-nots.
The spiritual significance of the festivity should not be lost on Muslims. Indeed, there is no better time to pray for peace, harmony and love than now as well as wisdom for our leaders to govern the country with the fear of Allah in their hearts.
Blueprint wishes all Muslim faithful Barka da Sallah.