The Katsina State Hisbah Board has directed all private schools in the state to shut down for the month of Ramadan.
In a statement dated February 27, the board explained that the closure is intended to allow pupils to fully observe the Muslim fasting period. Aminu Usman, the Hisbah commander-general, stated that the decision aligns with a directive from the state government. The board urged school proprietors to comply, warning that non-compliance “will not be tolerated.”
“The directives include extra lessons, please,” the statement added. Although not a mainstream government agency, the Hisbah Board in Katsina State is a government-backed institution responsible for enforcing Sharia law in accordance with Islamic principles.
Hisbah operates in several northern Nigerian states that have adopted Sharia law, including Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, and Sokoto. It functions as a moral policing unit, addressing issues related to public conduct, religious observance, and social behavior, often working alongside conventional law enforcement agencies.
Ramadan is a significant month in Islam, during which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. In Nigeria, the fasting period lasts 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the moon, as per the Islamic lunar calendar. Many schools and businesses in northern Nigeria, where Islamic governance structures like the Hisbah operate, often adjust their schedules to accommodate religious observances.
