By Uche Amunike
The Federal government of Nigeria has announced Friday, April 15 and Monday, April 18 as public holidays to mark the Easter celebration of the Year 2022.
The Easter celebration marks the end of the Lenten season, involving the fasting by Christians and the celebration of the crucifixion and Ascension of Jesus Christ. While Good Friday comes up on Friday as part of activities to mark Easter, Monday is for further observance of the Easter festivities.
Speaking on behalf of the Federal government, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, made the announcement as he felicitated with Christians and Nigerians both here at home and in the diaspora, on the forthcoming Easter celebration.
He called on Christians to apply the attributes and celebration which Jesus Christ was known for during his solourn on earth, reminding them that the virtues of sacrifice, kindness, love, peace, forgiveness, togetherness and patience were some of those attributes.
In the statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of Ministry, Shuaib Before, the minister also urged Nigerians and all Christians as well, to use the opportunity of this year’s Easter celebration to ask God for an end to all security challenges facing every part of the country.
He gave Nigerians the assurance that the Federal government will remain relentless in ensuring that the recent attacks by bandits on the highways airport and railway will soon be brought to an end.
Hear him: ‘Security is everybody’s business. I, therefore, urge Nigerians and foreigners resident in our country to display a high sense of citizenship and public spiritedness at this critical time in the history of our country, by supporting the efforts of all security agencies in bringing peace and security of lives and property of the citizenry’.
He went on to appeal to Nigerians to collaborate with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari in their determination to usher in prosperity for every Nigerian by bringing in sustainable development to the country, while assuring that ‘there will be light at the end of the tunnel’.
Other public holidays in Nigeria in 2022 are:
• 1 January – Saturday – New Year Day
• 3 January – Monday- New Year Day Holiday (This is because the New Year day falls on Sunday)
• 15 April – Friday – Good Friday
• 18 April – Monday – Easter Monday
• 1 May – Sunday – Labour Day
• 2 May – Monday – Labour Day Holiday (This is because Labour day falls on Sunday)
• 3 May – Tuesday – Id-el-Fitri
• 4 May – Wednesday – Id-el-Fitri
• 27 May – Friday – Children Day (Public Holiday for Schools and Children only)
• 12 June – Sunday – Democracy Day
• 13 June – Monday – Democracy Day Holiday (This is because Democracy Day fall on Sunday)
• 10 July – Sunday – Id-el-Kabir
• 11 July – Monday – Id-el-Kabir
• 12 July – Tuesday – Id-el-Kabir Holiday (This is because, Id-el-Kabir is likely to fall on Sunday according to the Lunar calendar)
• 1 October – Saturday – Independence Day
• 3 October – Monday – National Day Holiday (This is because the Independence Day falls on Saturday
• 8 October – Saturday – Id-el-Maulud
• 10 October – Monday – Id-el-Maulud Holiday (This is because Id-el-Maulud falls on Saturday)
• 25 December – Sunday – Christmas Day
• 26 December – Monday – Boxing Day
• 27 December – Tuesday – Christmas Day Holiday (This is because Christmas falls on Sunday)
