FG declares Friday, Monday public holiday for Easter celebration

The Federal Government has declared Friday, April 7, and Monday, April 10, as public holidays to mark this year’s Easter celebration.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, announced this in Abuja on Wednesday, April 5.

In a statement signed by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Shuaib Belgore, on Wednesday, Aregbesola urged Christians to emulate the qualities of selflessness, camaraderie, forgiveness, kindness, love, peace and patience that Jesus Christ demonstrated throughout His earthly ministry.

The minister urged Christians and other Nigerians to use this year’s Easter season to pray for an end to the country’s security challenges.

He said, “Security is everybody’s business. I, therefore, urge Nigerians and foreigners resident in our country to display a high sense of citizenship and public spiritedness by supporting the efforts of all security agencies in bringing peace and security of lives and property of the citizenry.”

The minister said further that the Federal Government was taking all necessary steps to guarantee a peaceful transfer of power following the conclusion of the election process.

While wishing Christians a peaceful Easter celebration, he also urged them to love their neighbours by performing acts of kindness and showing charity, with the wealthy sharing their possessions with the less fortunate nearby.

Aregbesola reassured Nigerians that the country was on the route to greatness and urged everyone to use their creative energies constructively to fully realise the impending prosperity.