Katsina Hisbah Orders Private Schools to Close for Ramadan
The Katsina State Hisbah Board has directed all private schools in the state to shut down for the duration of Ramadan to allow pupils to fully observe the Muslim fasting period.
In a statement dated February 27, the Hisbah commander-general, Aminu Usman, said the directive follows an order from the state government. He also warned school proprietors against non-compliance, stating that the decision “will not be tolerated.” The directive extends to extra lessons as well.
Although not a mainstream government agency, the Hisbah Board in Katsina operates as a government-backed institution responsible for enforcing Sharia law in line with Islamic principles. Hisbah operates in several northern Nigerian states, including Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, and Sokoto, where it serves as a moral policing unit, regulating public conduct, religious observance, and social behavior in collaboration with conventional law enforcement agencies.
Ramadan is a sacred 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. Many schools and businesses in northern Nigeria, where Islamic governance structures like Hisbah exist, often adjust their schedules to accommodate religious observances.
The Katsina directive comes shortly after the Bauchi State government announced a five-week closure of schools for Ramadan.
However, as of the time of this report, the Katsina State government has yet to comment on the enforcement of the order or any possible exemptions.
