FG Declares Monday, Tuesday Public Holidays
BY EDMOND ODOK – The Federal Government has declared Monday, July 11 and Tuesday, July 12, 2022, as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration for Muslims.
The Ministry of Interior on Thursday wrote on its official Twitter handle saying; “The Federal Government has declared Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th July, 2022, as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration.”
Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated all Muslims and Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora on this occasion.
According to a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Shuaib Belgore and made available to newsmen in Abuja, Aregbesola said; “I call on Muslims to continue to imbibe the spirit of love, peace, kindness and sacrifice, as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) 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.”
He assured Nigerians that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is “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.”
While wishing Muslims a happy Eid-el Kabir celebration, the Minister urged Nigerians to take responsibility by reporting any suspicious individuals and criminal activities they observed around them to law enforcement agencies with the use of N-Alerts application that has been designed to mitigate security challenges with prompt response from security agencies: as soon as you “See Something Do N-Alerts,” most especially during this festival.
He also enjoined all Nigerians to be vigilant and observant of intruders in their communities. “We must all take responsibility for the security of lives and property as we celebrate this year’s festival,” he said.
The Minister also craved the indulgence of every Nigerian 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.
Wishing Nigerians a happy Eid-el Kabir celebration, Aregbesola said the government will not relent in protecting all citizens under the law, maintaining law and order and keeping the peace in all situations.
The festival is used to mark the importance of obedience and sacrifice as epitomised by the Prophet Ibrahim who, according to Islamic belief, was ordered to kill his son by God, and was willing to obey the order until God replaced the sacrifice with a ram.
Millions of Muslims worldwide are expected to mark this year’s Eid-el_kabir festival on Saturday and they will kill rams in remembrance of that sacrifice
