Eid-el-Kabir: FG declares Thursday, Friday public holidays
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola,disclosed this on behalf of the government in a statement on Tuesday signed by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Interior, Georgina Ehuriah.
The Minister said this was to enable the Moslem faithful in the country join their counterparts across the world to celebrate the Moslem festival.
He congratulated Muslim faithful and all Nigerians both at home and abroad on the occasion, and called on Muslims to continue to imbibe the spirit of love, peace, kindness and sacrifice as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammed.
Aregbesola urged the Moslems to also use the period to pray for peace, unity, prosperity and the stability of the country, especially as the world is witnessing global health challenges caused by COVID-19.
He assured that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was fully committed to battling the scourge with the cooperation of all Nigerians, adding that the government will continue to foster peaceful coexistence, national cohesion and stability in its march towards actualizing the full potentials of the country.
The Interior Minister called on all Nigerians to join hands with the administration of President Buhari in its avowed determination to build a peaceful, harmonious and prosperous country where the rights of every citizen are protected and guaranteed as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Minister advised Nigerians to take responsibility against the spread of the COVID-19 virus and also to stay safe by observing physical and social distancing, personal and respiratory hygiene, as well as other regulations issued by relevant authorities.
Eid-el-Kabir, also called the “Festival of the Sacrifice”, is the second of two Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide each year, and considered the holier of the two. It honours the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismael as an act of obedience to God’s command.
