Nigeria, March 19 -- Muslims in Nigeria will continue the Ramadan fast on Thursday after the crescent moon marking the beginning of Shawwal 1447 was not sighted on Wednesday evening. This confirms that the Islamic festival, Eid-el-Fitr, will be observed on Friday, 20 March.

This was confirmed by Sa'ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and head of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) on Wednesday night.

Sambo Wali Junaidu, the chairman, Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, in a statement, explained that there were no moon sightings to herald the start of the month of Shawwal.

"The Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs in conjunction with the National Moon Sighting Committee did...