A statement signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Bassey Okon Akpanyung, said the extension of holiday followed the directive by the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, to the effect that the Ramadan fast continues on Tiesday as a result of the non-sighting of the moon.
In making the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, the Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd), urged Nigerians to use this period of sober reflections to ensure harmony, unity and peaceful co-existence, while giving full support to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in his sustained effort to pursue socio-economic and political growth of the nation.