Just a few days after Nigerians emerged from almost a week of rest stretching from two Thursdays ago to about Wednesday last week for the Christian celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, another restful week is here again following the Federal Government’s declaration of Tuesday, April 9th and Wednesday, 10th April, 2024 as holidays to mark this year’s Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government in a statement on Sunday signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Aishetu Ndayako. The celebration marks the end of the Muslim month of Ramadan.
Everyday.ng reports that as such religion-based public holidays go, Nigerians likely began travelling to loved ones and family members from Thursday last week so as to settle in for the weekend and begin to make preparations for the two-day holidays.
They are not likely to resume on Wednesday or even Thursday, and perhaps will get into the work mode by the next Monday, even though it is suspected that the economic situation may keep many indoors.
This caveat this year, as it affected the Christians the previous week, is the high cost of goods in the market. Many complained that the Good Friday and Easter holidays were low-keyed because of the unprecedented high inflation that rubbed off on their purchasing power.
This was immediately followed by an annoying hike in electricity tariff, which was said to have affected 1.5 million of 12 million electricity consumers.
Meanwhile, the minister congratulated all Muslim faithful for the successful completion of the fasting.
He called on Muslim faithful to imbibe and practice the virtues of kindness, love, tolerance, peace, good neighbourliness, compassion as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo urged Nigerians to embrace unity to improve and achieve peace and oneness in the country.
He wished all Muslim faithful a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebrations and prayed that the peace, blessings and favour of God be with everyone and Nigeria.