Federal Government declares public holidays for Easter celebration

The Federal Government has announced Friday 14th and Monday 17th April, 2017 as Public Holidays to celebrate Good Friday and Easter.”ŽThe announcement was in a statement endorsed by the acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Muhammadu Maccido.“Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd) who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, enjoined Christian faithful and Nigerians in general to extend the spiritual benefits of Easter, which are love, peace, justice, sacrifice and kindness to their daily living, and through this contribute to unity and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians”, the statement read.”ŽNigerians were advised by Gen. Dambazau to support President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, in his unrelenting drive to build a strong nation.For the celebration, Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, has directed the distribution of 40,000 personnel across the nation.Gana, in same breadth, celebrates with Christians and encouraged them to live exemplary life, as led by Christ, who died for the sins of all.”ŽHe recalled the season of fasting as it were, is a moment for atonement of sin, almsgiving, reconciliation, tolerance and peace-making, with one another. He therefore said Easter celebration should not be taken as a time of marrying alone but also a time for mutual tolerance irrespective of differences in religion.He remarked that “apart from the deployment of personnel, sniffer dogs, specialised units, such as CBRN, Special Force, Counter Terrorism, Ambulances, Surveillance team are to be deployed in strategic areas, he charged the personnel to ensure the protection of Critical Infrastructure within their localities against vandals and enemies of the nation.”