The decision was contained in a communiqué read to journalists by the Grand Mufti of Yorubaland, Sheikh AbdulRasaq AbdulAzeez Ishola, at the end of the League’s meeting held on Thursday in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Islamic leaders and scholars under the umbrella of the League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland have announced Wednesday, February 18, 2026, as the commencement date for this year’s Ramadan fast.
The decision was contained in a communiqué read to journalists by the Grand Mufti of Yorubaland, Sheikh AbdulRasaq AbdulAzeez Ishola, at the end of the League’s meeting held on Thursday in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The meeting was attended by the President General of the League, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere Bello; the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh AbdulGaniy Agbotomokekere; the Chief Imam of Ogun State, Sheikh Saadulah Bamgbola; the Chief Imam of Osun State, Sheikh Musa Rabiu Animasahun; and the Grand Chief Imam of Ondo State, Sheikh AbdulHakeem Yayi Akorede.
Others present included the Chairman of the League in Lagos State, Sheikh Seifudeen Ademoritan Olowooribi; Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Sheikh Muhammad Habibullah Adam Abdullah El-Ilory; Secretary General of the League, Sheikh Mustapha Adewale Hossein Doak; Professor Kamil Oloso; Dr Abdul-Barri Adetunji; and other prominent Islamic scholars from the six states in South-West Nigeria.
According to the communiqué, the decision to fix February 18 as the first day of Ramadan 1447 AH was based on precise astronomical calculations and resolutions of several international Islamic bodies on the unification of the Hijri calendar.
The League cited, among others, the resolutions of the Unified Hijri Calendar Committee held in Istanbul between November 27 and 30, 1978; the International Islamic Fiqh Academy; and outcomes of international conferences on lunar month confirmation and Hijri calendar unification held in Paris in 2012 and Istanbul in 2016.
It stated that astronomical data confirm that the conjunction (astronomical new moon) for Ramadan will occur at 12:01pm UTC on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, corresponding to 1:01pm Nigerian time, making Wednesday, February 18, the first day of fasting.
“The first day of Ramadan 1447 AH, Insha Allah, will be Wednesday, February 18, 2026,” the communiqué said.
The League further clarified that Ramadan would last 30 days this year, explaining that there would be no possibility of crescent sighting on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, which it identified as the 29th day of Ramadan.
It added that the astronomical conjunction for Shawwal would occur on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 2:23pm Nigerian time, confirming that fasting would not end at 29 days.
“Consequently, Ramadan this year shall be completed as 30 days, and fasting shall not end at 29 days,” the League said.