Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu issued a rallying call for collective sacrifice and national unity as the country’s Muslim faithful celebrated the important Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha on Sunday.
In a statement marking the “Festival of Sacrifice”, Tinubu congratulated Nigeria’s Muslim community and emphasized the occasion’s symbolic significance for the nation’s development.
“I celebrate with the Muslim Ummah on the joyous occasion of Eid al-Kabir, an event that symbolizes sacrifice, faith, and obedience to the will of the Almighty,” Tinubu stated. “I congratulate the Muslim faithful and pray that Allah accepts their supplications and acts of obedience.”
The president urged all Nigerians to reflect deeply on the essence of Eid al-Adha’s meaning of sacrifice and duty, which he called “essential ingredients to nation-building.”
“It takes collective purpose, will, and action to bring about great change,” Tinubu remarked. “I call on all citizens to spare a prayer for our nation for continuous peace and stability, while working according to purpose in promoting unity, peace, and progress.”
Acknowledging the sacrifices made by Nigerians amid his administration’s economic reforms, Tinubu provided reassurance that the citizenry’s “sacrifices and great expectations…will not come to naught.”
He stated that positive outcomes are emerging, with the economy strengthening and “vibrancy returning to critical sectors.”
The president also reaffirmed his government’s commitment to prioritizing Nigerians’ “physical, social and economic security” as a core objective.
Eid al-Adha commemorates the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son before God intervened. The four-day festival is marked by prayers, gatherings with family and friends, and the distribution of meat to the less fortunate.
Despite economic headwinds, Nigerian Muslims could be seen celebrating across the country, rejoicing in the festival’s spiritual traditions and symbolic meaning of obedience and submission to the divine.
