— The Supreme Court announced on Tuesday evening that the crescent moon marking the beginning of Ramadan has been sighted in Saudi Arabia, confirming that the holy month will begin on Wednesday.

The announcement followed reports from authorized moon sighting committees across the Kingdom, in accordance with Islamic tradition.

With the confirmation, Muslims across Saudi Arabia will begin fasting at dawn on Wednesday, observing the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar with prayers, reflection and charitable acts.

Ramadan is a period of spiritual devotion marked by daily fasting from dawn to sunset, increased worship, and community gatherings.

Mosques across the Kingdom are preparing to receive worshippers for Taraweeh prayers, while authorities have finalized arrangements to ensure smooth services during the holy month.

Government entities and private institutions are also set to implement adjusted working hours in line with Ramadan schedules.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The House of Representatives on Tuesday rescinded its earlier decision on Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act amendment bill, adopting instead the version earlier passed by the Senate, which allows both electronic and manual transmission of election results.

The decision followed an emergency sitting and sparked protest from opposition lawmakers, who staged a walkout from the chamber while chanting, “APC, ole! APC, ole!” in open dissent.

The House had initially approved a stricter provision mandating compulsory electronic transmission of results from each polling unit to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing (IREV) portal.

The earlier version stipulated that: “The Presiding Officer shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to the IREV portal and such transmission shall be done after the prescribed Form EC8A has been signed and stamped by the Presiding Officer and/or countersigned by the candidates or polling agents where available at the polling unit.”

However, at Tuesday’s sitting, lawmakers reconsidered the clause and aligned with the Senate’s version, which introduces a caveat in the event of technical failure.

Under the adopted provision, while electronic transmission remains mandatory, it provides that where such transmission fails due to communication challenges, making it impossible to upload results electronically, the manually completed Form EC8A—duly signed and stamped by the Presiding Officer and countersigned by candidates or polling agents where available—shall remain the primary basis for collation and declaration of results.

The reversal has heightened political tension within the chamber, with opposition members expressing concern that the amendment could weaken safeguards around electronic transmission of election results.

The newly appointed Airport Manager of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Gombe Station, Malam Sulaiman Marafa, has officially resumed duty.

It would be recalled that Malam Marafa was recently elevated to the position of Airport Manager, a role widely regarded as well-deserved considering his vast experience and distinguished service in the aviation sector.

Speaking during a brief handover ceremony at the airport in Gombe, Malam Marafa commended the efforts of his predecessor for effectively managing the affairs of the station and sustaining operational standards.

He expressed gratitude to the management of FAAN for finding him worthy of the appointment and reaffirmed his commitment to improving the operational efficiency and overall standard of the airport.

“Our vision aligns with the policies and programmes of the Federal Government in the aviation sector. We are determined to work diligently to achieve these objectives,” he stated.

The new Airport Manager further called on all staff of the station to cooperate and work collectively towards achieving the set goals, emphasizing teamwork, discipline, and professionalism as key drivers of success.

Malam Sulaiman previously served at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, where he rose through the ranks to become the International Terminal Manager of the airport, a position he held until his recent appointment as Airport Manager, FAAN Gombe Station.