Eid-al-Fitr: FG Declares A 2-Day Public Holidays

By: Sunday Shekwonya

The Federal Government of Nigeria, today has declared Friday, April 21 and Monday, April 24, 2023 as Public Holidays to mark this year’s Eid-al-Fitr celebration.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, made the announcement on behalf of the federal government in Abuja, on Wednesday, the 19th day of April, 2023.

Aregbosola explained that the Eid-al-Fitr marks the end to the month long Ramadan fast, and the commencement of Shawaal, the 10th month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

In the announcement, the Minister urged all Muslims in Nigeria and beyond to emulate the virtues of sacrifice, togetherness, forgiveness, kindness, love, peace and patience, which were the attributes and practices of Prophet Muhammad.

The Minister called on Muslims and indeed, all Nigerians to use the occasion of this year’s Eid-eI-fitir celebration to pray for an end to the security challenges in some parts of the country.

According to Aregbesola, Security is everybody’s business, and therefore, urged Nigerians and foreigners residing in the 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.

While wishing Muslims at home and in the Diaspora a happy and peaceful Eid-aI-Fitr celebration, he charged them to love their neighbours through the acts of kindness and generosity of spirit, with the well-to-do sharing their substance with the less privileged around them.

Aregbesola, once more assures Nigerians that the nation is persistently on the path to greatness and urged everyone to positively deploy their creative energy for the full realisation of the nation’s building.