The Federal Government has declared Friday, March 7, 2023, which is Good Friday, and Monday, March 10, 2023, which is Easter Monday as public holidays to mark this year’s celebrations. On Wednesday in Abuja, the Interior Minister, Rauf Aregbesola, declared this a public holiday.

Aregbesola urged Christians to imitate the virtues of selflessness, community, forgiveness, kindness, love, peace, and patience that were characteristics and practices of Jesus Christ, as demonstrated by His earthly ministry, in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Shuaib Begore.

The minister called on Christians and all Nigerians to use the occasion of this year’s Easter celebration to pray for an end to the security challenges in parts of the country.

The minister assured citizens that the Federal Government is doing all that is necessary to ensure a peaceful transition of government following the peaceful conduct of elections.

While wishing Christians at home and in the Diaspora a happy and peaceful Easter celebration, he enjoined them to love their neighbors through acts of kindness and generosity of spirit, with the well-to-do sharing their substance with the less privileged around them.

Aregbesola once more assured Nigerians that the nation is persistently on the path to greatness and urged all to positively deploy their creative energy for the full realization of the coming prosperity. “There is surely light at the end of the tunnel,” he stated.