The Federal Government has extended public holidays for the celebration of Eid-el Fitr to Thursday.
It had originally announced a two-day holidays, Tuesday and Wednesday, but said it had to extend the holidays following the announcement of Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, about the continuation of the Ramadan fast.
Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Dambazau announced the extension in a statement unveiled on July 5, Tuesday and signed by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Bassey Okon Akpanyung.
The statement advised Nigerians to use this period of sober reflections to ensure harmony, unity and peaceful co-existence, while giving full support to the government of President Muhammadu Buhari in his sustained effort to pursue socio-economic and political growth of the nation.
Eid-al-Fitr is the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal. It marks the end of Ramadan, which is a month of fasting and prayer. Many Muslims attend communal prayers, listen to a khutba (sermon) and give zakat al-fitr (charity in the form of food) during Eid al-Fitr.
