FG Declares Tuesday, Wednesday as Public Holidays to Mark Eid-El-Kabir

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The federal government has declared July 20 and 21, 2021, as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who made the declaration on behalf of the federal government, congratulated all Muslim faithful and Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora on the occasion.

Aregbesola in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, said: “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 in the country.”

The minister used the occasion to assure Nigerians that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is “committed to the security of lives and property of every Nigerian; empowering the citizens for successful living, providing social investments programmes and adequate security in schools, especially with the spate of innocent school children being targets of kidnapping.”

Aregbesola, while wishing Muslim faithful a happy Eid-el Kabir celebration, advised all Nigerians to take responsibility by reporting any suspicious individuals and criminal activities to law enforcement agencies, especially during this festival.

He also enjoined all Nigerians to observe all COVID-19 protocols, particularly the non-pharmaceutical measures-wearing facemasks, hand washing and social distancing-designed to keep transmission of the disease at bay.

According to the minister, “We must all take responsibility for the containment of the pandemic during this year’s festival.”

He, however, sympathised with the families of school children who have been kidnapped or suffered one misfortune or another, saying: “Our hearts and prayers of comfort are with you.”