The Federal Government has declared December 27 and 28, 2021 and January 3, 2022 as public holidays to mark Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day respectively.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, made the announcement in a statement by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Shuaib Belgore, on Wednesday.

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Aregbesola, who felicitated with Christians, enjoined them to practise the doctrines of Christ and pray for insecurity to end in the country.

The statement read, “Aregbesola felicitates with Christians and all Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora on this year’s Christmas and New Year celebrations.

“He enjoins Christians to practise the doctrines of Christ, which include but not limited to these

“He emphasises that peace and security are two critical conditions for economic development and prosperity. He urges Christians and Nigerians to make the best use of this festive period to pray for the total eradication of insecurity bedevilling our dear nation.”

The minister also urged Nigerians to take heed to the measures put in place to avoid the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

It read, “ The Minister strongly charges Nigerians not to be lulled into a false sense of security on COVID-19 pandemic but to note that it is increasingly assuming a very dangerous and harmful dimension with the emergence of a virulent variant, Omicron.”

“Aregbesola said they should moderately celebrate the festival without large groupings and observe all the protocols stipulated by medical authorities and take it as a point of personal responsibility to prevent the spread of the virus.”

The minister also assured Nigerians that the government had put in place effective measures for the security of lives and property and expects Nigerians to support the efforts of security agencies by providing useful information that will assist them in the performance of their duties.