Abubakar III on Sunday night made this declaration in a statement issued by the National Moonsighting Committee (NMC) on its official Twitter page.

The NSCIA president in the statement also declared Monday, June 19 as the first day of Dhul-Hijjah 1444 AH.

“The Sultanate Council Sokoto has declared Monday 19/June/2023 as the first day of Zul-Hijjah 1444 AH,” the statement read in part.

“Accordingly, Wednesday 28/June/2023 will be the day of Eidul Adha 1444 AH.

“His Eminence The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa‘ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, wishes the entire Muslim Ummah happy Eid-il Adha Mubarak in advance.”

Eid-il-Adha or Eid-il Kabir as it is called is the second celebration in the Hijrah calendar.

The first celebration which is known as Eid-il-Fitr is always used by the Muslim faithful to mark the end of the Holy month of Ramadan.

Meanwhile, during the ten days leading up to the celebration, Muslims are urged to increase their acts of worship and ask Allah for all their hearts’ desires.

Eid al-Adha which is also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, commemorates the Quranic Prophet Ibrahim’s readiness to sacrifice his son to God.

It features the slaughtering of ram(s) by modern-day Muslims all across the Federation.