The Federal Government has declared Monday and Tuesday, July 11 and 12th respectively, as public holidays for this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of Interior, made the announcement today (Thursday) in a statement made available by Dr Shuaib Belgore, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry.
The statement, which congratulated Muslims in particular and Nigerians in general on the occasion, tasked the citizens to pray for peace and prosperity in the country at this period.
The statement quoted the Minister as saying that “I call on Muslims to continue to imbibe the spirit of love, peace, kindness and sacrifice as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad, and to also use the period to pray for peace, unity, prosperity and the stability of the country considering the challenges of insecurity we face at the moment.”
It added that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was committed to the security of lives and properties of all Nigerians, empowering the citizens for successful living, the provisions of social investments programmes and adequate security in the schools.
It also urged Nigerians to take responsibility by reporting any suspicious individuals and criminal activities that they observed around them to law enforcement agencies.
“We must all take responsibility for the security of lives and property as we celebrate this year’s festival.”
It quoted Aregbesola as craving the indulgence of Nigerians to “come together, put our heads, hearts and all we have together in order to achieve relative peace for harmonious coexistence and put an end to insecurities in Nigeria.”
