The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, declares Thursday, 16 July 2026, as the first day of Safar 1448AH in Nigeria. Multiple outlets report that the announcement follows the non-sighting of the new crescent moon across the country. According to a statement attributed to the Sultanate Council’s Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, the decision is made after moon-sighting efforts do not confirm the crescent. The reports add that the Sultanate Council’s religious affairs leadership communicates the date through an official statement issued on Wednesday. Vanguard also describes the declaration as resulting from a review of moon sighting. Legit.ng characterizes the announcement as a breaking update on when Safar 1448AH will begin, while other outlets specify the date and the basis for the decision—no crescent moon sighting. All sources agree that the declared start of Safar in Nigeria is Thursday, 16 July 2026, based on the moon-sighting outcome.