EID-UL-FITR: Nigerian govt declares public holidays
Nigeria”s Federal Government has declared Tuesday 9th and Wednesday 10th April, 2024 as public holidays for Eid-ul-Fitri celebration 1445AH/2024.
The country’s Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the declaration on Sunday.
He congratulated the Nigerian Muslim Ummah for the successful spiritual exercise fasting in the holy month of Ramadan, and urged them to use the public holidays to pray for the peace and unity of Nigeria .
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Tunji-Ojo called on Muslim Ummmah to imbibe and practice the virtues that entails kindness, love, tolerance, peace, good neighbourliness, compassion as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him).
In a statement by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Aishetu Ndayako, the Minister urged Nigerians to continue in the spirit of unity in order to improve and achieve peace and oneness in the country.
The Minister wished all Muslim Ummah a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration and prayed that the peace, blessings and favour of Allah be with everyone.
Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar, immediately follows Ramadan, marking the commencement of the Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
The month symbolizes a new beginning and spiritual rejuvenation after a month of purification, offering ample opportunities to sustain the positive habits cultivated during Ramadan.
Shawwal is the tenth month of the lunar-based Islamic calendar. Shawwāl stems from the verb shāla which means to ‘lift or carry’, generally to take or move things from one place to another, so named because a female camel normally would be carrying a fetus at this time of year.
The first day of Shawwāl is Eid al-Fitr, fasting is prohibited. Some Muslims observe six days of optional fasting during Shawwāl beginning the day after Eid ul-Fitr since fasting is prohibited on this day.
