As Nigerians joined other Muslims worldwide to celebrate the 2025 Eid-El-Kabir, President Bola Tinubu and many state governors have called for sacrifices and brotherly love to keep the country united amid the rising security challenges.
Speaking at the Eid prayers held at Dodan Barracks, Lagos, on Friday, Tinubu urged Muslims to remember the security agencies, especially the military forces in their prayers.
“We must also pray hard for our troops to keep us safe. They are making sacrifices,” the President said in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Tinubu said the troops were making sacrifices for the terrorism and banditry challenges confronting the country, urging Nigerians to be well-behaved.
The President also called for supports for the less privileged, asking Nigerians to embrace sacrificial giving and remain their brothers’ keepers.
“We should remember to pray and give to those who are very vulnerable in the spirit of the season, which is sacrifice.
“We must unite, remain our brothers’ keeper, and give to our neighbours. We should show love to everyone,” Tinubu said.
Meanwhile, the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has called on Nigerians to continue to support Tinubu’s administration in order to achieve lasting peace and prosperity in the country.
Shettima also urged Nigerians to look beyond their differences and work together for national progress.
The Vice President, according to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant to Shettima on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, made the call on Friday during the Eid prayers at the National Eid Ground along Airport Road, Abuja.
Shettima described Eid al-Adha as a solemn occasion rooted in the legacy of Prophet Abraham’s obedience and sacrifice, values he said were essential to building a strong and united Nigeria.
“This is a period of sober reflection, a season of reaching out to the indigent among us, of building bridges of brotherhood and sisterhood. Life is a marathon, and as individuals, we can run faster, but we can wear out easily. But as a family, as a collective, as a nation, we can gain greater traction and reach our desired destination,” he said.
Shettima urged citizens to stand behind President Tinubu’s leadership, noting that the unity of purpose and shared sacrifice were vital in addressing issues like insecurity and poverty.
“What binds us together supersedes whatever that divides us. I wish to thank all Nigerians for their support and empathy, and call on all of us to coalesce into a single purse to confront all of our common challenges of insecurity, destitution, and so many other challenges.
“But be rest assured that no matter how long the night is, it must give way to the light of the dawn. We have crossed the Rubicon, and we are on the path to sustained peace and development,” the vice president added.
Govs, others emphasise Sallah lessons
In a similar vein, the Chairman of Northern Governors’ Forum and Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, enjoined Muslim faithful to embrace the virtues of sacrifice, obedience, and tolerance which define the essence of the festival.
Yahaya gave the charge after observing the Eid prayers alongside the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu III, United Nations Assistant Secretary General and Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohammed Fall and other dignitaries at the Central Eid Ground in Gombe.
Yahaya called on the faithful to submit wholeheartedly to the will of Almighty Allah in all circumstances, just as Prophet Ibrahim (AS) demonstrated.
“As we mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir, let us reflect on its core message, which is total submission, obedience, selflessness, and unwavering faith.
“Islam teaches us peace, tolerance, modesty, and love. These values must guide our individual conduct and collective aspirations as a people,” Yahaya said.
Similarly, the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, felicitated the Muslim faithful, urging them to embrace the lessons of sacrifice, charity, and love that came with the celebration.
The governor promised that his administration would continue to prioritise security, agriculture, and infrastructural development for the people of the state.
He urged the people to take advantage of the rainy season to engage in agriculture for food security and economic prosperity.
The Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, also called on the Muslims to emulate the spirit of giving exhibited by Prophet Ibrahim.
Speaking shortly after observing the Eid prayer at the Sultan Bello Eid Prayer Ground, the governor urged those blessed with wealth and means to share their blessings with the less privileged and their neighbors.
“Eid-el-Kabir commemorates the profound act of obedience and unwavering faith demonstrated by Prophet Ibrahim, who was prepared to sacrifice his beloved son Ismail in submission to the command of Almighty Allah,” Governor Sani said.
In his goodwill message, the Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, reminded the Muslim faithful of the importance of selflessness, compassion for the less privileged, and devotion to the common good and values.
According to a statement issued on Friday by his Chief Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, the Soludo urged all Nigerians to reflect on the lessons of the Sallah festival.
Similarly, suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, also admonished Muslims to reflect on the powerful values of sacrifice, obedience, and faith of the holy celebration.
In his Sallah message, Fubara encouraged Muslims to use the occasion as an opportunity to pray for peace, unity, and prosperity, especially at a time when Nigeria faces serious challenges from insecurity and economic difficulties.
This was contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Nelson Chukwudi.
This is as the Christian Association of Nigeria, Taraba State Chapter, also extended warm greetings to the Muslim faithful, describing the Eid-el-Kabir festival as a powerful reminder of sacrifice, devotion, humility, and unity exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim.
In a goodwill message signed by the state CAN Chairman, Rev. Williams Awoshiri, on Friday, the association noted that these values transcend religious boundaries and are vital to Taraba’s collective journey toward peace, tolerance, and development.
Also, the Zamfara State government, in its goodwill message, urged the people of the state to continue praying for an end to banditry.
In a Sallah broadcast, the Acting Governor of the state, Malam Mani Mummuni, commended the people of the state for their continued prayers for the success of Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration, calling on them not to relent in that direction.
Peaceful celebration in Katsina, Kebbi, Rivers
Meanwhile, the Eid-El-Kabir Sallah celebration was largely peaceful in some parts of the country on Friday.
Our correspondents, who monitored events in Katsina, Kebbi, and Rivers states, reported that hundreds of Islamic faithful gathered at various prayer grounds to mark the holy day in love and unity, while also making various appeals to their state governments.
At the Dan-Fodio Jumu’at Mosque in Katsina, one of the worshippers, who is also the Chairman of Katsina Local Government, Isah Miqdad, urged the state government to prioritise youth empowerment to create more job opportunities for the state’s growing number of unemployed youths.
In Kebbi State, there was also peace during the Sallah celebration, as Muslims, led by the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammadu Bashar, and other top government officials, gathered at the Central Eid ground for the annual prayers.
It was observed that despite the high cost of goods in the country, many still slaughtered hundreds of cows, rams, and other livestock in celebration.
Some parts of Rivers State also witnessed calm atmosphere, with many shops closed. Traders and commuters attributed the quiet mood to the rising cost of living and financial hardship.
At Nvigwe Market in Woji, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, a meat seller identified as Femi lamented the sharp increase in commodity prices compared to last year.
“You can’t compare things from last year to this year,” he said.
“Since the beginning of the year, it’s been tough. Prices have gone up, and even customers are complaining. It doesn’t feel like Sallah. The economy is hard, and the government needs to step in and help people afford basic things.”
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