The federal government has declared Friday 25, Monday 28 December 2020 and Friday, January 1, 2021 as public holidays to mark the Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year Celebrations respectively amid a gloomy Christmas celebration.
Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, who made the declaration on behalf of the federal government Wednesday in Abuja, felicitated with Christians and all Nigerians both at home and abroad on this year’s Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Aregbesola urged Christians to adopt the creed of Christ on faith, hope and love. “We must emulate the life of humility, service, compassion, patience, peace and righteousness that the birth and Ministry of Jesus Christ signified, that will be the best way to know Christ and celebrate his birth”, he said.
He noted that peace and security are critical factors needed to enable Government accomplish its mission of revitalizing the economy, improving Foreign Direct Investment as well as generating employment opportunities for over 100 million Nigerian youths in the next 10 years.
Aregbesola advised Nigerians and Christians in particular, to adhere strictly to the Covid-19 protocols and guidelines, as stipulated by relevant authorities, during and after the yuletide, especially with the second wave of the outbreak of the disease.
Meanwhile, some Nigerians have lamented the rising prices of commodities, including essentials such as food during the Christmas season as well as the slow sales and businesses as a result of the economic hardship and insecurity in the country.
A businesswoman, Oluchi Eze, told Blueprint in Abuja that with the skyrocketing prices of commodity, “this Christmas will be one of the least celebrated,” saying “Parents are going through a lot; from school fees to feeding. The Christmas fun will be the least of their worries for now.”
She said “Before now, I could go to the market with as little as N3,000 and get a lovely gown or buy some good clothes; this year, it is not possible.”
A private company worker, Iyanu Adeniran said “With the COVID-19 pandemic and all, many businesses are yet to pick up, and many companies are running at a loss. The company I work for; we are closing with a loss this year for the very first time in seven years. In previous years, once it was the first week of December, the office distributed welfare packages to the members of staff. But that is not even certain this year. The company cannot afford it when there is no profit. “
As for Precious Kalu, another businesswoman said there would not be any trip to Abia, her home state this Christmas while a meat seller, Wasiu Akanji, said: “I don’t pray to encounter year 2020 again.
Market has been devastating due to the effect COVID-19 that started in March. Customers that usually bought N2, 000 worth of meat have reduced it to N500. Even some now buy N200; it is that bad. I have told my wife and children that we are going to wear some of our old clothes that are still relatively new, and cook rice and eat foods we can afford.”
