In an unprecedented decision in recent years, the Federal
Government has extended the ongoing Eid-el fitr holiday to Thursday, July 7,
making the holiday lasting for three days.
The government had
last week declared Tuesday July 5 and Wednesday July 6, 2016 as public holidays
But the the
Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, in a statement on Tuesday signed by
the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Bassey Okon Akpanyung! added Thursday
to the two days.
according to the statement, the decision followed the
directive by the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic
Affairs, and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, to the effect that
the Ramadan fast continues on Tuesday as a result of the non-sighting of the
moon.
The statement urged
Nigerians to use this period of sober reflections to ensure harmony, unity and
peaceful co-existence, while giving full support to the administration of
President Muhammadu Buhari in his sustained effort to pursue socio-economic and
political growth of the nation.
