The Federal Government has declared December 25th and 26th as public holidays for the Christmas and Boxing Day celebrations.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It also declared Monday, January 1st, 2024 as a public holiday for New Year\u2019s Day festivities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Federal Government has declared Monday 25th, Tuesday 26th December, 2023 and Monday, January, 1st 2024 as public holidays to mark Christmas and New Year Day celebrations, respectively, \u201d the Director Overseeing Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior Peter Egbodo said in a Friday statement.<\/p>\n
He quoted the Minister of Interior Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo as making the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government and felicitated Christians and all Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora on the occasion.<\/p>\n
\u201cDr Tunji-Ojo enjoined Christians to emulate the life of Jesus Christ in His practice and teachings of humility, service, compassion, and patience. peace and righteousness that His birth signifies,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe emphasized that peace and security are critical prerequisites for economic development and prosperity.\u201d<\/p>\n
The minister assured that the Federal Government has put measures in place for the security of lives, especially during the celebrations.<\/p>\n
But Tunji-Ojo called on Nigerians to be \u201csecurity conscious, and report any suspicious persons or activities to the nearest security agencies\u201d. According to him, the Yuletide season calls for discipline to protect the lives and properties nationwide.<\/p>\n
\u201cDr Tunji-Ojo admonished all Citizens to remain focused that, the year 2024 will be a better year with the Renewed Hope agenda of the President. The Minister wishes all Nigerians, especially Christians a happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year celebration,\u201d the statement further read.<\/p>\n
Buyers check some clothes while shopping at a stall in the Balogun Market in Lagos on December 18, 2023. Christmas and year-end celebrations are marred by the economic crisis and soaring prices in Nigeria.<\/p>\n
But the festive season looks bleak for many Nigerians. Soaring prices have left rice, beans, and other basic foodstuffs out of reach for millions.<\/p>\n
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who came to power at the helm of Africa\u2019s largest economy in May, launched an ambitious reform agenda to attract investment and address a cost-of-living crisis.<\/p>\n
He ended a costly fuel subsidy and lifted restrictions on the naira currency.<\/p>\n
Since then, fuel prices have tripled, the naira has lost 41 percent of its value against the dollar on the official currency market and, according to the World Bank, food prices have surged more than 31 percent.<\/p>\n
Overall inflation exceeded 28 percent in November. Poverty in Africa\u2019s most populous nation rose from 40 percent in 2018 to 46 percent this year, the World Bank said. The lives of some 104 million people \u2014 or nearly half the population \u2014 are blighted by poverty.<\/p>\n
At the Obalende market in Lagos, trade has slowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t know that Christmas is outside,\u201d fish seller Rifat Arigege, 41, said.<\/p>\n
Melody Samuel, 28, said she would not buy rice \u2014 the star ingredient in the season\u2019s celebrations \u2014 and will make do with a much cheaper dish made from cassava flour and pumpkin seed soup instead.<\/p>\n
No rice and \u201cno money for presents for the children. We will just manage it and see,\u201d said the mother of three, whose husband is a teacher.<\/p>\n
New clothes have become a luxury for a 59-year-old, who runs a cooking utensils shop and gives her name only as Mrs Betty. She took her time choosing the popular Balogun market.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy daughter is pregnant and I have to buy some clothes for her for Christmas and the grandchildren,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m not buying anything for myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Traders complain of a tough year, compounded by a fresh shortage of cash that hits the informal economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe scarcity of naira affected a whole lot of things and didn\u2019t make the business move so much,\u201d shoe seller Bidemi Bello, 48, said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t even know there\u2019s Christmas in the air.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Federal Government has declared December 25th and 26th as public holidays for the Christmas and Boxing Day…\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10499,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[2322],"class_list":{"0":"post-10498","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"tag-tunji-ojo"},"yoast_head":"\n