The Federal Government has declared Monday 27th, Tuesday 28th December 2021 and Monday, 3rd January 2022 as public holidays to mark Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day celebrations respectively.
In a statement on behalf of the FG, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, while congratulating Christians at home and abroad enjoined them to practice the doctrines of Christ.
According to him, “We must emulate the life of Jesus Christ in His practice and teachings on Humility, Service, Compassion, Patience, Peace and Righteousness, that His birth signifies. This will be the best way to portray Christ and celebrate his birth.”
He urged Nigerians to make the best use of this festive period to pray for the total eradication of insecurity bedevilling the nation as he maintained that peace and security were critical conditions for economic development and prosperity.
The minister urged Nigerians not to be lulled into a false sense of security on the COVID-19 pandemic but to note that it is increasingly assuming a very dangerous and harmful dimension with the emergence of a contagious variant, Omicron.
“This calls for deliberate responsibility and discipline on the part of all”, the Minister stressed.
Aregbesola urged everyone to adhere strictly to and observe all the stipulated non-pharmaceutical protocols and guidelines including reporting to medical authorities of any respiratory illness observed in self and others before, during and after the Yuletide.
Speaking further, the Minister said the Yuletide calls for spartan discipline in order to prevent the spread of the virus in our community and the nation as a whole.
“Moderately celebrate the festival without large groupings and observe all the protocols stipulated by medical authorities. Take it as a point of personal responsibility to prevent the spread of the virus,” he noted.
