Nigeria’s Ministry of Interior will declare a nationwide public holiday across all entities to mark Eid al-Fitr 2026, potentially creating an extended break for all Muslim employees when combined with the weekend.
The official announcement is expected later in March 2026, and it will be the only national public holiday in Nigeria for the month.
Work in ministries, government agencies, parastatals, and other public institutions may be suspended on March 20, 2026, with normal operations expected to resume the following week.
Ramadan, which precedes Eid al-Fitr, usually lasts 29 or 30 days.
Considering that Muslims in Nigeria started fasting on February 18, 2026, the fast is expected to end on March 19 or March 20, 2026, depending on lunar sightings.
Eid al-Fitr lasts for one day and is observed on the first day of Shawwal in the Islamic calendar, with the exact date determined by the sighting of the new moon.
Meanwhile, the Kano government has announced March 1, 2026, as the official start date for the Eid al-Fitr holiday for all public and private primary and post-primary schools in the state.
The announcement, made through a statement by Musbahu Aminu Yakasai, the Director of Public Enlightenment for the Kano State Ministry of Education, reportedly aligns with the approved 2025/2026 academic calendar, which indicates that the second term ended on February 28.
Yakasai said, according to a report by The Punch.
“All day and boarding schools across Kano State will commence their Sallah break from March 1. Parents and guardians are urged to ensure that pupils in boarding schools are conveyed home.”
Furthermore, the statement outlined that boarding school pupils and students are expected to resume on March 22, while day students will resume on March 23, 2026.
It added that the second term would start on March 22 and end on April 18, 2026.
