Christmas

The pensioners appealed to governor Ifeanyi Okowa to release their pension arrears to enable them celebrate the season even as they resolved to stage another ...

Okowa should pay us the outstanding arrears of 99 months. “Non of this letters were replied. Pensioners in Delta State have lamented non payment of their pension arrears by the state government.

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerians to set aside their differences and celebrate the love and joy that Christmas bring.

I want to assure Nigerians that those who violently seek to disrupt the peace of our nation have lost the battle.” “This joyous season has coincided with the period of campaigns to usher in a new administration. In whatever circumstances we find ourselves, Christmas is a period when we come together to rejoice and set aside our differences.”

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha has urged Christians to imbibe and internalize the teachings of Jesus Christ as exemplified in ...

…wish Nigerians best celebration …calls on farmers to speak with one voice. By Gabriel Ewepu. ABUJA – With less than 24 hours to 2022 Christmas celebration, ...

“The farmers should be financial members of their various associations in order to function properly and join hands with AFAN to become relevant stakeholders in the governance structure of Nigeria’s Agriculture. “The farmers should work in harmony to rid their lot of dishonest members who are perpetually shortchanging them by working with incompetent and corrupt public servants to swindle them in the oft-repeated dishonest charade of “input distribution” in limited areas in Nigeria. “The SHFs which form 70 per cent of our membership remain the engine-room of food production in our food system and as AFAN is the umbrella body of all the associations it is pertinent to note the following in trying to build our ‘food system’ back better and to be able to attain food sufficiency and the most desired Food Security in the nearest future: All the farmers in Nigeria should try to speak with one voice on all issues affecting the Agriculture space to be able to make the government more focused and accountable to the people who elected them.

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerians to vote for those that will maintain the momentum his administration has created for the greater good of the ...

Buhari said, “this joyous season has coincided with the period of campaigns to usher in a new administration. I will fondly remember them as my benevolent landlords and friendly neighbours. Twenty-two weeks from now, this administration will hand over to another.

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, in its felicitation message on this year's Christmas celebration, has urged the federal government to do more.

While commiserating with families and victims of terrorist and violent attacks in different parts of the country, the National President of the PFN prayed for comfort and strength for them at this time. We wish all Nigerians a joyful Christmas and a prosperous new year.” It speaks to hope, joy and a new beginning, reminding us that no matter how long it takes to manifest, God’s plan will never fail nor falter.”

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has urged Nigerians, especially Lagosians to continue to live in peace and harmony as...

People must continue to ensure that they protect and they use infrastructure well so that generations coming behind us can also enjoy the dividends of democracy.” “I just want to assure our citizens that the government and the people of Lagos State will continue to be law-abiding. You can see that our THEMES agenda this year has touched all of our pillars and I cannot begin to role them out here today.

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has called on all Nigerians to continue to keep Nigeria in their prayers, assuring them that whatever the ...

“Christmas is not just another celebration; it is a reminder of the goodness of God and fulfilment of his promise of redemption. We wish all Nigerians a joyful Christmas and a prosperous new year.” In a Christmas message by the National President of the PFN, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, he expressed appreciation to God for his grace and benevolence towards his people and the privilege of another Christmas celebration.

Jingle bells! Jingle bells!! Jingle all the way!!! Christian clergy and congregations all over the world will today flock and dance all the way to the altar in ...

By far the most selfish outgrowth of this digital invasion of the world of good wishes and camaraderie is the coming of fantasy digital Christmas food and drinks ferried around the social media. The Christmas card made the good wishes of friends and loved ones tangible pieces with a diversity of messages. It used to be part of the ritual of Christmas observance in homes and offices to stage an elaborate display of all manner of Christmas cards from years past . The global travel and hospitality industries have become part of the Christmas industry. Turkeys and rams on their way to the guillotine, cooking pots and frying pans and ovens of Christmas luncheons joined the parade of artistic motifs. It is no longer a day merely dedicated to the celebration of love in the tradition of Cupid. It has become a time for the global end of year travel and vacation. The battle for the souls of men has nearly been overwhelmed by the scramble for the dollar in every consumer’s pocket. It was an act of defilement to convert the place of worship into a place of trade. By an irony of history, after several centuries of that mass flogging and original injunction, humanity has become curiously united in the global retail frenzy and annual ritual of consumerism of the season of Christmas. Christian clergy and congregations all over the world will today flock and dance all the way to the altar in an ancient commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Joy to the world and food in abundance to those who can afford it are emblematic of a season of goodwill and peace to all of believing humanity.

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, and Senators Chimaroke Nnamani, Solomon Adeola and Opeyemi Bamidele have enjoined Christians to show love, peace, hope ...

“As you celebrate, I appeal to you to pray for the success of our dear governor , Hon. With him being successful, all of us will have course to be joyous because we have expectations that needed to be met”. He is a welfarist and not a pillager like others. “We must see politics as an opportunity to serve the people and not a ‘do or die’ affair. He is one leader that unites and build. Poverty and insecurity didn’t recognise all these factors.

Peace, Joy and Love. In his last Christmas in office, President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerians not to lose sight of the symbiotic relationship between ...

The message of Christmas is simple: Times indeed may be tough, but our optimism must remain high that no matter the circumstances we face either as individuals or as a nation, all will be well. In his address to the Roman Curia for the exchange of Christmas greetings last Thursday, Pope Francis touched on the virtue of forgiveness which means “always giving others a second chance…God does this with every one of us; he keeps forgiving us; he keeps putting us back on our feet; he always gives us another chance. If Jesus Christ came to serve and not to be served, our leaders should learn to bring light to the dark land; hope to the hopeless; justice to the oppressed and integrity to the wasteland. In specific terms, this season is a reminder of that historical event which took place more than 2000 years ago, when Christ was born in the relatively humble town of Bethlehem of Judea. Meanwhile, the celebration of Christmas has acquired a special tone this year owing to the socio-economic challenges the nation is going through and the impact on citizens. There is indeed no better time than now to eschew hatred, rancour, greed, and avarice while building an ethic of human solidarity aimed at promoting the common good.

The Christian Association of Nigeria on Friday congratulated the country on the birth of Jesus Christ but regretted that it was being celebrated amidst ...

We should resist the temptation to speak the language of despair and division over our lives and our nation. “This year, we are celebrating Christmas in Nigeria amidst uncertainty, fear, untold suffering, hardship and pain in the face of a harsh economy, record inflation figures, worsening poverty situation and a weakened security system due to bad governance. As people who believe in Him, we are reminded of the unfailing and never-ending love of God for us.

Christmas is upon us once again as Christians worldwide celebrate the portentous event of the birth of Jesus the Christ, the one not only regarded as the ...

It is on this note that The Guardian wishes all our Christian readers, and indeed all Nigerians, a merry Christmas, with hope for the emergence of a better Nigerian society, come the New Year 2023. As we join the world to celebrate Christmas, Nigerians must not lose sight of the real meaning and essence of Christmas. Nigerian Christians will want to stretch out the hand of fellowship and solidarity in charity and thanksgiving to all who have survived the unprecedented stresses and the strains of the passing year.

Super Falcons defender Glory Ogbonna, who features for Turkish side ALG Spor Kulubu, shares memories of her Christmas celebration while growing up, ...

I am grateful to God that I am at that level to take care of my family and I am happy doing it. I also miss the celebration in terms of merriment, you know the meat, the rice, Eba and Egusi and everything, like I stated earlier. Yes, I miss my people back home because this is the time everyone reunites with their families and celebrate. When we had occasions for merriment, there was always rice and all kinds of food, but I still went for my special delicacy, which is Eba and Egusi soup. So, I will also say my special food for Christmas is Eba and Egusi soup, despite the fact that there would be a whole lot of food, I would still go for what I enjoyed eating. That’s the life I chose and I miss celebrating Christmas in Nigeria.

President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC), Bishop Sithembele Sipuka, has said that the Christmas season should be a time ...

Sensitivity to the plight of the poor among us "must include working for social and economic structures that will ensure that no one lives an impoverished life. Later Jesus would proclaim that He is 'sent to bring the good news to the poor and liberty to the oppressed' (Lk. He emphasised that the festive season is meant to be a moment of restoration and a time to improve the quality of relationships with others. The Christian values he was promoting are not alien to the values encouraged in the traditional African way of life, said Bishop Sipuka. We meaningfully celebrate Christmas; therefore, if we are also prepared to work for peace, peace in our families, in our neighbourhoods, at work, in our country and the world," said the Bishop of Mthatha. God became one of us to heal the relationship between Him and us, between us and creation and among ourselves.

The Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN) Kaduna State Chapter, has called on Nigerians to show love and kindness by encouraging the act of giving at ...

“Let me reiterate, this is the time in this nation that we so desperately need this act of giving, this show of love and kindness. In the biblical story of Lazarus and the rich man, the rich man was not condemned because he was rich, no, he was condemned because he had more than enough to give but he watch poor Lazarus suffer starvation. Someone just need a meal, a kind word, a hug, a smile, a little amount of money e.t.c to have hope in life again. There is no better time that this nation ever needed the show of kindness than this material time.” “Our nation Nigeria today is dealing with the toughest of all times, things seem to be moving in regression, we do not seem to be growing as a nation, daily people die out of starvation, ill-health, poverty to mention but these. Indeed it will not be far fetched to say, “giving is the reason for the season.”

In Christendom, December 25 of every year is celebrated as the birthday of Jesus Christ. Though this year's celebration is remarkable.

In the South-East, which has a predominance of Christians, the fear of the so-called unknown gunmen has become the beginning of wisdom. Usually, Yuletide is the period people travel to the hinterlands to commune with friends and family members. According to the index, 12.7 per cent of Nigerians are undernourished; 31.5 per cent of under-five children are stunted while 11. This is because of the economic and security situation we have found ourselves in the country. But, with humility, people could be catapulted to the height they never dreamt of in life. We are hopeful that this year’s Christmas will usher in a new era for Nigeria. Currently, it is over 21 per cent, the highest in 17 years. This is even a conservative figure as it is possible that the rate will be higher. Currently, the rate of unemployment is over 33 per cent. On that day, over 2000 years ago, a saviour was born to save the world from the sin of Adam and Eve at the Garden of Eden. Nigeria is not just the poverty capital of the world; it is among the 10 hunger hot spots in the world as well. But, for us in Nigeria, the occasion calls for sober reflection.

As Christians worldwide celebrate Christmas, economic experts have reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari's message to Nigerians, where he boasted of.

“This Government has achieved the gold medal as the Government that has carried government debt to the highest level, with the country using over 95% of its revenues for debt servicing. The cost of staple food has increased and has seen over 300% increase in some cases. Recently the CBN has continuously increased interest rates which have a rippling effect on the cost of doing business. “On the aspect of food prices, bad governance is the primary factor affecting it. “The dividend of democracy is what we can term it. It is this regime; give it to them; they have done their best.

This celebration marks the special inbreaking of God in human history. It celebrates the historical birth of Jesus of Nazareth and the advent of Christ, the ...

It starts with each of us in Nigeria—the de-egotisation of selves helps establish a new ethos of gift and culture of graciousness fed by justice, honesty, hard work and peace. The self-giving sacrifice of the Christmas mystery has degenerated into self-satisfaction and self-aggrandisement of the moment. Ultimately, Christmas is celebrated adequately when the baby Jesus is born in us so that Christ reigns over our lives and affairs. Christmas invites us to be missionaries and apostles of the reign of God and His Christ through our good works and good words. They celebrate the basest in us as the tradition of our people. It is indigenous and a guest to Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa. That was the story of Christianity in Igboland, Yorubaland, Tiv nation, Efik nation, and among the Hausa, Nupe, Birom and other various peoples of Nigeria. This celebration is, among other things, a thanksoffering to God and an acknowledgement of such a great divine gift that inaugurates the definitive salvation of humankind. And it was lived as such by the various cultures and peoples of Nigeria. Christ is both a son of the soil and a guest to every land. In effect, the message of Christ is neither strange nor totally new to cultures. Across fountains and mountains, faith in Jesus Christ brought a re-evaluation, reconciliation, renewal and transformation of peoples and cultures.

God created the earth to be a replica of heaven and created man to be a replica of God to represent God on earth. Hear God in Genesis 1:26 -27 “And God said ...

We are the most religious people on earth yet we are one of the most corrupt countries in the world. God created the earth to be a replica of heaven and created man to be a replica of God to represent God on earth. Let us use the occasion of this Christmas to pray for our country. Physical death is the separation of the body from the soul which ends in the body being dead and buried as it must return back to dust and the soul being spiritual returns back to God. Indeed bad leaders is the foundation of all the evils a country has. The Bible made it clear that if we say that we have no sin, we lie and the truth is not in us for all have sinned and come short the glory of God. Spiritual death is the separation of the soul from God. The opportunity for a new beginning is the gift of God of his only begotten Son to save the world from sin and rebuild the shattered relationship between God and man. Rebellious because God created man and man owes God loyalty and should be subject to His commands, yet man disobeyed God and deserved to be punished and grievously did God punish him. Man decided to obey and submit himself to God’s arch enemy Satan to the detriment of his relationship with God. He set time for everything and even the time to live and the time to die. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Man as God needed not any opportunity for a new beginning.

Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, has expressed his excitement over the prevailing atmosphere of peace and security in Abia State this 2022 Christmas.

It has been the greatest honour of my life yet, being your Governor,” he said. We will keep working for our people till our last day in office in May next year.” The Governor assured that while security is of God, his administration will continue to do all within her power to support the fantastic work of various security agencies in the State in their bid to secure the lives and property of the people.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has urged Nigerians, especially Lagosians to continue to live in peace and harmony as they celebrate ...

People must continue to ensure that they protect and they use infrastructure well so that generations coming behind us can also enjoy the dividends of democracy.” He said: “Next year is very important for our country because it is a year for the general elections. You can see that our THEMES agenda this year has touched all of our pillars and I cannot begin to role them out here today.

As Nigerians join other Christian faithful globally to celebrate this year's Christmas, President Muhammadu Buhari has implored the citizens to vote for a.

Let the story of Christmas inspire us to speak the language of peace to our neighbours regardless of differences in religion, ethnicity, or political leanings,” he said. He said, “On this significant occasion of Christmas, I extend my best wishes to the Christian community and all citizens of the country. That is the example of Christ and what he would expect from us today.’’ “I celebrate with all Christians on this joyous occasion of commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Nothing demonstrates the true spirit and essence of Christmas more than helping those less fortunate than ourselves. “It is exasperating that Tinubu is promising to remove petrol subsidy when his party has retained it for the last seven years and spent billions of dollars subsidising criminality. So, as Christians, we must remind ourselves that love is the first requirement for a better and peaceful world,” he stated It is saddening that he has failed to bring succour to Nigerians who are suffering from the worsening inflation, unemployment and insecurity.” Buhari said, “This joyous season has coincided with the period of campaigns to usher in a new administration. “Atiku Abubakar hereby promises Nigerians that this will be their last Christmas that will be spent at a filling station queuing for petrol. “I also extend my wishes for a good and happy Christmas to my political opponents. He noted: “With the fuel scarcity now continuing till December, the government has run out of excuses even as most Nigerians are now at the mercy of black marketers who sell petrol as high as N500 per litre.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, vice presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima has felicitated with Christians as they celebrate Christmas. Shettima's.

Nnenna Okoronkwo, Abuja · Peter Obi The Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi urged Nigerians to remain hopeful for a better nation, “especially as ...

“The fraternal love and giving to the poor are the hallmarks of Christmas celebration. He encouraged Nigerians to go beyond the festivities and glamour associated with the Christmas season, and strive to live out the true essence of the celebration. We as humans should therefore endeavour to make sacrifices even when it is painful, for the good of others and for our society”.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Muhammad Bello, has felicitated with residents on the Christmas celebration while urging peace and ...

“Let us therefore use the opportunity of the Christmas celebration to reflect on and imbibe these virtues as exemplified by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The season of Christmas which commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ is synonymous with love for humanity, charity, peaceful co-existence and unity. The Minister, in his Christmas message, addressed to residents on Sunday, said the celebration, which marked the birth of Jesus Christ, was synonymous with love for humanity, charity, peaceful co-existence and unity, and therefore urged residents to use the opportunity in practicing the virtues.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged Nigerians not to succumb to misery in spite of the hardship and agony they face under the All Progressives ...

“However, our Party urges Nigerians not to lose hope but use the occasion of Christmas, which marks the redemptive purpose of God towards mankind and our nation in particular to rekindle their resolve for a new dawn under a purposeful, caring and affectionate PDP leadership, come May 29, 2023. The PDP in a communique on Sunday said it is saddened that millions of Nigerians cannot afford the necessities to celebrate, many could not travel to meet with their loved ones due to economic hardship and those who did are facing harrowing life-discounting experiences, with several families stranded on the highways on account of dilapidated roads and worsening insecurity under the suffocating APC government. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged Nigerians not to succumb to misery in spite of the hardship and agony they face under the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration but use the occasion of Christmas, the celebration of the coming of Jesus Christ to strengthen their hope for a brighter future for our nation.

The President, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, has called on Nigerians to remain hopeful as they celebrate Christmas, ...

He therefore prays that the Yuletide season “becomes a period of strengthening ourselves and others; reminding one another that there is no difficult situation that the presence of Jesus cannot address. Let us remember that the spirit we have received from God through the coming of Christ into the world is not of fear but of power, and of love, and of sound mind (2 Tim 1:7). The story of Christmas tells us of God’s loving intervention in the human situation of helplessness and hopelessness.

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has appealed to Christians to remember the poor, weak and.

It is the message of giving and caring for the poor, the weak, the vulnerable, the sick, the elderly, the less privileged, amongst us, and chiefly respect for everyone. It is the message of renewed hope in humanity. It is the message of love for one another.

…urges them to show love to one another. By Festus Ahon, ASABA. GOVERNORSHIP flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the 2023 general elections ...

Sheriff Oborevwori, Sunday, felicitated with Christians across the world as they celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. GOVERNORSHIP flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the 2023 general elections and the Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. He said: “Jesus Christ is the symbol of God’s love for His children and as we celebrate Christmas, we, as Christians should not forget to spread same love as represented by Christ himself who is the reason for the season”.

The celebration of Christmas reminds us of the grace of God, and the birth of Jesus Christ is the beginning of a new covenant of God's mercy, according to ...

“Before we had to pay for our sins and we had to bear the consequence of sin. From the moment Christ was born, God said He wasn’t going to hold us to account for sin so long as we believed in what He did – the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The Vice President had delivered the sermon at a hybrid service attended by his wife, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, senior government officials and others – both online and physically.

The Deputy Governor of Ekiti State Mrs Christianah Monisade Afuye has appealed to Ekiti citizens to have unflagging faith in Governor Biodun Oyebanji to.

“Let all Ekiti indigenes have faith in the government of Governor Biodun Oyebanji and instil the good virtues exhibited by Jesus Christ in their hearts and dealings in the quest to building a state that is progressive, peaceful, stable, and incorruptible.” While urging for celebration with modesty and in conformity with the directive of Jesus Christ, she urged them to ensure that Ekiti State becomes a state that is a model for others. The Deputy Governor of Ekiti State Mrs Christianah Monisade Afuye has appealed to Ekiti citizens to have unflagging faith in Governor Biodun Oyebanji to fulfil his electioneering promises geared toward combating the burdens of poverty and insecurity in the land.

Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church, has urged people across the world to imitate the Christian Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and desist from being ...

Peter’s Basilica Mass attended by about 7,000 faithful, including tourists and pilgrims, who flocked to the church on a warm evening and took their place behind rows of white-robed pontiffs. “How many wars have we seen? The Catholic cleric, recalling Jesus’ birth in a stable, rebuked those “ravenous” for wealth and power at the expense of the vulnerable, including children, in a Christmas Eve homily decrying war, poverty and greedy consumerism, Associated Press reports from the Vatican City.

The head of the Catholic Church addressed thousands of people gathered in St Peter's Square, some of them holding Ukrainian flags, before delivering the “Urbi ...

He called on people to “abandon the warmth of worldliness” and “rediscover the meaning of Christmas” in the face of “consumerism”, advocating for a Church that serves the poor. “The war in Ukraine has further aggravated this situation, putting entire peoples at risk of famine, especially in Afghanistan and in the countries of the Horn of Africa,” he said. “May the Lord inspire us to offer concrete gestures of solidarity to assist all those who are suffering, and may he enlighten the minds of those who have the power to silence the thunder of weapons and put an immediate end to this senseless war!” he said.

Pope Francis on Sunday appealed for an end to the "senseless" war in Ukraine, in his traditional Christmas message from St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.

“The war in Ukraine has further aggravated this situation, putting entire peoples at risk of famine, especially in Afghanistan and in the countries of the Horn of Africa,” he said. “May the Lord inspire us to offer concrete gestures of solidarity to assist all those who are suffering, and may he enlighten the minds of those who have the power to silence the thunder of weapons and put an immediate end to this senseless war!” In his address from the central balcony of St Peter’s, he recalled “our Ukrainian brothers and sisters who are experiencing this Christmas in the dark and cold, far from their homes”.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, has rebuked those that are extremely hungry for wealth and power to the detriment of others while ...

In the splendour of St. “How many wars have we seen? Recalling Jesus’ birth in a stable, Pope Francis rebuked those “ravenous” for wealth and power at the expense of the vulnerable, including children, in a Christmas Eve homily decrying war, poverty and greedy consumerism, Associated Press reports from the Vatican City.

Prof. Isah Mshelgaru, Leader of a Muslim group who celebrate Christmas with Christians at EYN Church, Samaru Zaria, presenting gift to Rev. Tijjani Chindo, ...

Today we are celebrating the good news that the Lord has come,’’ he said. Speaking to newsmen after the service, the Leader of the team, Prof. “We decided to attend this church service today because today is Christmas Day, a day that the birth of Jesus Christ is being celebrated over the globe and we feel that we also have our concern to share with them the feelings of the day Jesus was born.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Sunday, said the message of redemption Christmas brings is a relief for himself, Nigerians and all of humanity.

“As we go into the new year, with God on our side, no matter how whatever may be the negative forecast of people, we know that God who goes ahead of us will make the cooked places straight. That’s what we celebrate today because the birth of Jesus Christ is really, just as I said a few moments ago, the birth of the grace of God. If you are told that someone has paid for all your sins, and your sis is many like mine, it’s great news. So, it’s a celebration of joy and great relief. “So it’s a celebration of joy and a great relief. Jesus Christ came to pay in full for all of our sins.

From Paul Orude, Bauchi. Christian community in Bauchi state have been urged to emulate the virtues of Jesus Christ as they celebrate this year's Christmas.

The Clergyman congratulated all Christians in the state on this Special occasion of Christmas urging them to be calm, peaceful and joyous as they commemorate the birth of the Universal King . The CAN Chairman averred that in this season of love and peace, Christians in the state are advised to be compassionate, selfless and charitable in all their dealings with their fellow man especially those of other faith and religion. Dimeus in a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Ishola Michael, affirmed that it is important for Christians state to emulate the virtues of Jesus Christ who was born to fulfil the purpose and promises of God for mankind for salvation.