Islamic New Year: List Of States That Declared Monday As Public Holiday

No fewer than five states in Nigeria have declared Monday as a public holiday to mark the beginning of the new Islamic calendar, 1st Muharram 1446AH.

Osun Defender reports that Osun, Oyo, Kwara, Kebbi, and Jigawa states declared Monday a public holiday for the celebration.

Osun

The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, on Friday, declared Monday, July 8, 2024, as a public holiday to commemorate the new Islamic year.

Adeleke, in a statement released through the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Rasheed Aderibigbe, and published on the Ministry of Information bulletin on Friday, stated that the holiday is to allow Muslims in the state to celebrate the new Islamic year.

The statement added that Governor Ademola Adeleke would preside over a special parade/March session as part of the activities to celebrate the new year.

While wishing Muslims a happy celebration, the governor charged them to use the period to pray for the unity and peaceful development of the state and Nigeria in general.

Oyo

The Oyo State Government declared Monday, July 8, 2024, a work-free day in commemoration of the Islamic New Year, Hijrah 1446AH.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, the state government acknowledged the significance of Hijrah in the lives of its Muslim residents.

READ: Hijrah 1445: Osun Govt Declares Wednesday Public Holiday

Kwara

The Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, on Friday, approved Monday, July 8, 2024, as a public holiday in the state in commemoration of the new Hijrah Year (Muharram) 1446.

Governor Abdulrazaq, in a statement released through his spokesman, Rafiu Ajakaye, in Ilorin, said the first day of the Muharram 1446 falls on Sunday, July 7, 2024, according to many calculations.

Kebbi

Kebbi Governor, Nasir Idris also declared Monday as a public holiday to mark the beginning of the new Islamic calendar, 1st Muharram 1446AH.

Alhaji Auwal Manu-Dogondaji, the state Commissioner for Establishment, said this in a statement in Birnin Kebbi on Friday.

According to him, the 1st of Muharram is on a Sunday, and due to the importance of the Islamic New Year, the government decided to shift the public holiday to Monday.

Manu-Dogondaji congratulated the Muslim Ummah on the advent of the new Islamic calendar, urging the Muslims to sustain fervent prayers for peace, security, and prosperity of Kebbi and the nation as a whole.

Jigawa

Also, the Jigawa State Government has declared Monday 8 July as a work free day to mark the new Islamic Year 1446AH.

This is contained in a statement signed by the State Head of Civil Service, Muhammad K Dagaceri.

It advised workers and citizens of the State to pray for continued peace and prosperity in Jigawa State.

The Government urged the people of the State to reflect and live their lives based on the teachings of Islam and the practice of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

It also urged the people to continue to be law-abiding and shun acts that could cause a breach of the peace in the State.