Sultan declares Tuesday Islamic new year, Sokoto announces public holiday

Sokoto State in Nigeria will observe a public holiday on Tuesday, June 16, to mark the commencement of the Islamic new year, 1448AH. The declaration was made by the Sokoto State Government following the Sultan of Sokoto's announcement of the date.

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The Federal and State Governments are doing their best through sustained support to security agencies in the fight against banditry and other forms of criminality in the state.

Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, who also serves as the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), officially declared Tuesday as the first day of Muharram 1448AH. Muharram is the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The announcement was confirmed in a statement issued by Professor Sambo Junaidu, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs of the Sultanate Council.

The Sokoto State Government, through a statement by Governor Ahmed Aliyu's Director-General of Media and Publicity, Abubakar Bawa, designated Tuesday as a public holiday. Governor Aliyu encouraged the state's residents to use the occasion for fervent prayers for lasting peace and an end to the insecurity plaguing parts of Sokoto and the nation. He highlighted insecurity as a major impediment to national development and stressed the importance of collective efforts to combat it.

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We need to understand that securing our country is a collective responsibility in which every patriotic citizen must play a role.

Governor Aliyu reiterated his administration's commitment to supporting security agencies in their fight against banditry and criminality. He urged citizens to recognize that securing the country is a shared responsibility. The governor also advised Muslims to engage in sober reflection and self-assessment during the new Islamic year, encouraging repentance and a renewed commitment to righteous living. He assured continued support for Islamic propagation and religious activities within the state, wishing Muslims a peaceful and prosperous new year.

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Allah is Most Forgiving and Most Merciful.