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Ramadan Begins in Nigeria as Sultan Confirms Crescent Sighting
Ramadan Begins in Nigeria as Sultan Confirms Crescent Sighting
Abuja — The Sultanate Council on Tuesday night confirmed the sighting of the crescent moon, officially signaling the commencement of Ramadan 1447AH in Nigeria.
The President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, announced that the new moon was sighted in parts of the country, thereby declaring Wednesday, February 18, 2026, as the first day of fasting for Muslims nationwide.
The announcement followed verified reports from moon-sighting committees across several states, in line with Islamic tradition which requires physical sighting of the crescent to mark the beginning of the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
In his message to the Muslim faithful, the Sultan urged Nigerians to use the holy month to pray for peace, unity, and national development. He also called on Muslims to embody the virtues of patience, compassion, charity, and self-discipline which Ramadan represents.
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Ramadan, one of the five pillars of Islam, requires adult Muslims to abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs from dawn until sunset throughout the month. The period is also marked by increased devotion, nightly congregational prayers in mosques, recitation of the Qur’an, and acts of charity to the less privileged.
Across major cities including Abuja, Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt, mosques recorded increased attendance for special night prayers following the announcement. Markets also witnessed heightened activity as families made last-minute purchases in preparation for the fasting period.
Ramadan will last 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the next crescent, and will culminate in the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the fasting month.
Muslim leaders have encouraged faithful to observe the fast in accordance with Islamic teachings while maintaining harmony and mutual respect within Nigeria’s diverse society.
Ramadan Begins in Nigeria as Sultan Confirms Crescent Sighting
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BREAKING: Tinubu Posts Yakubu, Omokri, Fani-Kayode, 62 Other Ambassadors (Full List)
BREAKING: Tinubu Posts Yakubu, Omokri, Fani-Kayode, 62 Other Ambassadors (Full List)
Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has approved the posting of 65 Nigerian ambassadors and high commissioners to diplomatic missions across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, in a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s foreign policy and international engagement.
The announcement was made on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed that the list comprises 31 non-career diplomats and 34 career ambassadors whose appointments were earlier confirmed by the Senate.
The newly posted envoys include prominent politicians, retired military officers and seasoned diplomats tasked with representing Nigeria’s diplomatic, economic and strategic interests abroad.
Among the notable postings, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmud Yakubu, has been posted to Qatar, while former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode will serve as Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany.
Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has been deployed to Mexico City, while former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has been assigned to Spain.
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Businessman and senator Jimoh Ibrahim will serve as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
According to the Presidency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already begun securing diplomatic approval, known as agrément, from host countries. The United Kingdom has granted agrément for Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu, while France has approved the posting of Ayo Oke.
President Tinubu has also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately begin the induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and high commissioners, after which they will proceed to their respective missions once final approvals are secured.
The appointments are part of the administration’s broader effort to reinvigorate Nigeria’s diplomatic missions, attract foreign investment, strengthen bilateral relations and expand trade and security cooperation globally.
Non-Career Ambassadors / High Commissioners
| S/N | Name | Mission |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Senator Grace Bent | Lome, Togo |
| 2 | Senator Ita Enang | South Africa |
| 3 | Victor Ikpeazu | Spain |
| 4 | Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu | Tel-Aviv, Israel |
| 5 | Mahmud Yakubu | Qatar |
| 6 | Paul Oga Adikwu | Vatican City |
| 7 | Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas | Philippines |
| 8 | Reno Omokri | Mexico |
| 9 | Abasi Braimah | Hungary |
| 10 | Angela Adebayo | Portugal |
| 11 | Olumilua Oluwayimika Ayotunwa | Japan |
| 12 | Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi | Greece |
| 13 | Chioma Priscilla Ohakim | Poland |
| 14 | Aminu Dalhatu | United Kingdom |
| 15 | Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau | China |
| 16 | Tasiu Musa Maigari | Gambia |
| 17 | Olufemi Pedro | Australia |
| 18 | Muhammed Ubandoma Aliyu | Argentina |
| 19 | Lateef Kayode Are | United States |
| 20 | Joseph Sola Iji | Russia |
| 21 | Jimoh Ibrahim | United Nations |
| 22 | Femi Fani-Kayode | Germany |
| 23 | Isaak Folorunso Adewole | Canada |
| 24 | Fatima Florence Ajimobi | Austria |
| 25 | Lola Akande | Sweden |
| 26 | Ayo Oke | France |
| 27 | Yakubu N. Gambo | Saudi Arabia |
| 28 | Nora Ladi Daduut | South Korea |
| 29 | Joe Okocha (SAN) | Ireland |
| 30 | Kulu Haruna Abubakar | Tunisia |
| 31 | Jerry Samuel Manwe | Trinidad and Tobago |
Career Ambassadors / High Commissioners
| S/N | Name | Mission |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nwabiola Ezenwa Chukwumeka | Cote d’Ivoire |
| 2 | Besto Maimuna Ibrahim | Niger |
| 3 | Monica Okwuchukwu Enebechi | Sao Tome & Principe |
| 4 | Mohammed Mahmud Lele | Algeria |
| 5 | Endoni Syndoph Paebi | Burkina Faso |
| 6 | Ahmed Mohammed Monguno | Egypt |
| 7 | Jane Adams Michael | Jamaica |
| 8 | Alexandra Clark-Omeru | Zambia |
| 9 | Chima Geoffrey Lioma David | Mali |
| 10 | Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah | Equatorial Guinea |
| 11 | Wasa Segun Ige | Lebanon |
| 12 | Ruben Abimbola Samuel | Italy |
| 13 | Ogechukwu Kingsley Onaga | Mozambique |
| 14 | Magaji Umar | DR Congo |
| 15 | Muhammad Saidu Dahiru | India |
| 16 | Abdussalam Habu Zayyad | Senegal |
| 17 | Shehu Ilu Barde | Ghana |
| 18 | Aminu Nasir | Ethiopia |
| 19 | Abubakar Musa Musa | Chad |
| 20 | Haidara Mohammed Idris | Netherlands |
| 21 | Bako Adamu Umar | Morocco |
| 22 | Sulu Gambari Olatunji Ahmed | Malaysia |
| 23 | Romata Mohammed Omobolanle | Tanzania |
| 24 | Shaga John Shamah | Botswana |
| 25 | Hamza Mohammed Salau | Iran |
| 26 | Ibrahim Danlami | Kenya |
| 27 | Ibrahim Adeola Mopelola | Benin |
| 28 | Ayeni Adebayo Emmanuel | Belgium |
| 29 | Wahab Adekola Akande | Switzerland |
| 30 | Esther Arewa Adedokun | Namibia |
| 31 | Gergadi Joseph John | Gabon |
| 32 | Luther Ogbomode Ayo-Kalata | Sierra Leone |
| 33 | Danladi Yakubu Nyaku | Sudan |
| 34 | Bello Dogon-Daji Haliru | Thailand |
BREAKING: Tinubu Posts Yakubu, Omokri, Fani-Kayode, 62 Other Ambassadors (Full List)
News
US Releases Additional Epstein Files Containing Allegations Against Donald Trump
US Releases Additional Epstein Files Containing Allegations Against Donald Trump
The United States Justice Department has released additional FBI documents from its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including interview records from a woman who alleged that U.S. President Donald Trump sexually assaulted her after being introduced to him by Epstein.
The newly disclosed documents were made public on Thursday as part of the ongoing release of records related to the Epstein investigation. According to the Justice Department, the materials were not included in earlier congressionally mandated disclosures because they had been incorrectly labelled as “duplicative” records during the document review process.
The files include summaries of several 2019 interviews conducted by the FBI with the woman, who claimed she was between 13 and 15 years old when she was sexually assaulted by Epstein in the 1980s.
According to the interview summaries, the woman told investigators that Epstein once took her to either New York or New Jersey and introduced her to Trump in what she described as a tall building.
She alleged that during the encounter, Trump attempted to force her to perform oral sex, but she resisted and bit him, causing the alleged assault attempt to stop.
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The woman further told investigators that Epstein had abused her repeatedly over several years and had sometimes arranged encounters with other men.
During the interviews, she also said that she and people close to her had received threatening phone calls over the years warning her to remain silent, which she suspected were connected to Epstein.
Despite the allegations, the FBI did not bring charges related to the claims, and records indicate that investigators eventually stopped communicating with the woman later in 2019.
Justice Department officials have cautioned that the allegations contained in the newly released documents are uncorroborated and noted that some materials submitted during the Epstein investigation included “untrue and sensationalist claims” involving President Trump.
President Trump has repeatedly denied any misconduct linked to Epstein or the allegations contained in the documents.
The release of the additional files has sparked renewed political scrutiny in Washington, with Democrats questioning how the administration handled the disclosure of the Epstein records.
Lawmakers argue that key materials may have been withheld or mishandled during the earlier releases.
In response, a House committee has voted to summon Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify about the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files and explain why some documents were not initially disclosed.
The Justice Department maintains that the omission resulted from administrative errors in the massive document review process, which involves millions of pages of records tied to the Epstein investigation.
The disclosures are part of a broader transparency effort following congressional legislation requiring the government to release large volumes of records connected to Epstein, whose high-profile criminal case exposed an extensive network of abuse involving underage victims.
US Releases Additional Epstein Files Containing Allegations Against Donald Trump
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US Lawmaker Raises Alarm Over ‘Convert or Die’ Threat Against Christians in Nigeria
US Lawmaker Raises Alarm Over ‘Convert or Die’ Threat Against Christians in Nigeria
A United States lawmaker has raised fresh concerns over the killing of Christians by terrorists linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in northeastern Nigeria, warning that extremist threats against religious minorities in the region are worsening.
The lawmaker, Riley M. Moore, reacted after reports emerged that ISWAP fighters carried out a deadly attack in Adamawa State in February that reportedly left at least 27 Christians dead and several homes destroyed.
Security analyst Brant Philip had earlier shared details of the incident online, noting that the terrorists later admitted responsibility for the assault and issued a chilling ultimatum to Christian communities in the area.
According to a message circulating on social media platform X, the militants allegedly warned that Christians must “either pay the jizyah tax, convert to Islam, or be killed.” The statement described the ultimatum as a “fair deal,” sparking outrage among international observers.
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Reacting in a post on X, Moore condemned the threat and described the development as a clear case of religious persecution in Nigeria.
“Christians continue to be explicitly targeted for their faith in Nigeria,” Moore said.
“ISIS-West Africa is slaughtering Christians and telling other Christians they must convert or die. In our report to the White House, we made it clear that increased American support is contingent on the Nigerian government doing more to defend Christians. Now is the time for Abuja to step up.”
The comments highlight growing international concern about terrorist attacks in Nigeria’s northeast, where insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP have continued to target communities, places of worship and security forces.
Nigeria has been battling a prolonged insurgency for more than a decade, particularly in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, where thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced by extremist violence.
Human rights organisations and religious freedom advocates have repeatedly warned that Christian minorities in rural communities remain vulnerable to targeted attacks, especially in remote areas with limited security presence.
Although the Nigerian military has intensified operations against insurgent groups in recent years, attacks, kidnappings and raids by militants still occur across several parts of the northeast.
Moore’s latest remarks add to increasing international calls for stronger efforts to protect vulnerable communities and improve security in Nigeria’s conflict-affected regions.
US Lawmaker Raises Alarm Over ‘Convert or Die’ Threat Against Christians in Nigeria
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