Security has been beefed up across places of worship in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and many states, ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had ordered the strategic deployment of police personnel and operational assets nationwide to ensure security during the festive season.

The directive mandated all zonal assistant inspectors-general and state commissioners of police to intensify patrols, visibility policing, intelligence-led operations, and community engagement.

In the FCT, the police command has deployed 2,202 personnel across Abuja and its satellite towns to ensure security during the 2025 end-of-year festivities.

The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Miller Gajere Dantawaye, in a statement, said, “Our personnel have been strategically positioned at places of worship, recreational and event centres, major highways, motor parks, and other public spaces across the FCT.”

He added that the operation is being supported by visibility policing, intelligence-led patrols, and the monitoring of identified black spots, uncompleted buildings and shanties that could be exploited by criminal elements.

Also, the Police Command in Lagos State has deployed more than 5,000 police personnel across the state to ensure a peaceful and secure Christmas and New Year celebration for residents and visitors.

The command’s spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, in a statement, said the security operation involved conventional police officers, tactical units, intelligence operatives, marine police, and special squads strategically positioned across the state to guarantee safety throughout the festive period.

In Kwara State, the police command says it has mapped out statewide security measures across places of worship, motor parks, recreational and event centres.

The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, said police in the state are being assisted by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Amotekun Corps, So-Safe Corps, the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), and local hunters to intensify patrols and increase police visibility in residential areas, markets, motor parks, places of worship, hospitals and along major highways.

The Kano State Police Command also assured residents of adequate protection of lives and property.

Police commands in Kogi, Bayelsa, Nasarawa, Imo, Taraba and other places said they have deployed adequate personnel to worship centres, recreational areas, major highways, markets, and other public places to protect lives and properties during the season.

People of all faiths safe – President

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to religious freedom and the protection of Nigerians of all faiths, assuring that no citizen will be persecuted for their beliefs.

In his Christmas message to Nigerians to mark the 2025 celebration, Tinubu said the season is a reminder that “despite daunting challenges, God is with us,” while urging citizens to hold fast to hope, faith, and unity.

The President stated that since assuming office in 2023, his administration has remained unwavering in its resolve to safeguard Nigeria’s security, unity, and stability, in line with God and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

According to him, every Nigerian has the right to live, worship, and pursue their aspirations in safety and dignity.

Tinubu stressed that no one, regardless of ethnicity or belief, should suffer for practising their faith, noting that love for God and humanity lies at the heart of all major religions.

He said these shared values must continue to bind Nigerians together as one resilient and indivisible people.

The President disclosed that throughout 2025, he engaged religious leaders from the country’s two major faiths amid concerns over intolerance and insecurity, pledging to build on the dialogue to strengthen collaboration, prevent conflict, and promote peaceful coexistence.

Congratulating Christians in Nigeria and across the world, Tinubu acknowledged their contributions to national development, particularly their care for the vulnerable and promotion of peace and tolerance.

He also urged Nigerians travelling during the festive period to exercise patience and discipline on the roads, expressing confidence that, with divine guidance and collective effort, the nation will continue on the path to a greater future.

Speaker, govs, ACF, others call for unity, peace

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and his deputy, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, have called for prayers for Nigeria’s renewal amid socio-economic, political and security challenges. Abbas said the season should inspire collective efforts by Nigerians of all faiths toward a national rebirth anchored on unity and shared responsibility.

Both leaders called on Christians to emulate the virtues of Jesus Christ—humility, compassion and love—while extending support to the needy. Kalu described Christmas as a time for reflection, generosity and renewed hope, urging citizens to work together for peace, progress and a more inclusive Nigeria.

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) urged Nigerians to embrace unity, peace and mutual understanding during the Christmas season and beyond.

The forum described Christmas as a period for reflection on values of love, sacrifice and peaceful coexistence, drawing lessons from both the Bible and the Qur’an on human dignity and tolerance.

NEF stressed that Nigeria stands at a critical juncture requiring collective responsibility, dialogue and rejection of hate.

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) extended Christmas greetings to Christians while highlighting the deepening economic hardship and insecurity confronting Nigerians, especially in the North. The forum noted that many families are celebrating amid poverty, displacement and uncertainty.

ACF urged Nigerians to unite in prayer for peace and recovery, while calling on leaders to govern with empathy, truth and honesty. It also appealed to security agencies to intensify efforts against terrorism and criminality.

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq urged residents to sustain peace, unity and harmonious coexistence.

He also called for vigilance and cooperation with security agencies as they work to maintain public safety.

Bauchi gov donates N540m to Christians

Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has approved N540 million for the purchase and distribution of Christmas food items to support Christian communities across the state. The gesture, according to the state government, is part of efforts to promote inclusiveness, peace and unity in Bauchi’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious society.

The Chairman of the Standing Committee on Christmas Gifts Distribution, Mr Abdon Dalla-Gin, said the funds were used to procure livestock and food items, including bulls, rams, bags of rice and cartons of groundnut oil, which will be shared among Christian blocs, religious leaders, organisations and the less privileged.

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, urged Christians in the state to emulate the virtues of Jesus Christ by promoting peace, love and unity.

He described Christmas as a season for reflection, kindness and charity, calling on citizens to uphold the values that strengthen communal harmony.

The governor appealed for restraint during the festive and electioneering periods, advising residents to shun violence and excessive celebrations.

He praised the state’s record of peaceful coexistence, stressing that sustained peace remains critical to development, and urged road users to obey traffic regulations to ensure safety during the holidays.

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri urged Christians to draw strength and hope from the Word of God as they celebrate Christmas, describing Christ as the ultimate comforter in times of sorrow. He called for reverent and modest celebrations anchored on faith and hope.

Atiku, PDP, ADC

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar called on Nigerians to use Christmas as a season of reflection, peace and national renewal.

He urged citizens to embrace love, sacrifice, forgiveness and compassion as foundations for healing and progress.

Atiku encouraged Nigerians to go beyond celebration to prayer and unity, expressing hope for peace, justice and inclusive development in the coming year. He called for collective action toward building a stronger and more united Nigeria.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) urged leaders and citizens to embrace values symbolised by the birth of Jesus Christ as a pathway to national renewal. The party said Christmas offers lessons of love, humility and sacrifice essential for governance.

PDP reaffirmed its commitment to value-driven politics, expressing confidence that principled leadership can transform Nigeria’s economy and society.

ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, called for vigilance against insecurity and renewed commitment to national unity. He urged citizens to uphold peace, tolerance and compassion across religious and ethnic lines.

Mark stressed that Nigeria’s diversity remains its strength and called on leaders to embrace selfless service and accountability. He encouraged Nigerians to remain hopeful and united in building a just, inclusive and prosperous nation.

Bishop Kukah

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has urged Nigerians to remain hopeful and united despite the country’s worsening insecurity, saying the message of Christmas offers strength in times of violence, poverty, and despair.

In his 2025 Christmas message titled “Joy and Hope in a Time of Tribulation,” Bishop Kukah said Nigeria remains “trapped in a valley of violence and sorrow,” but stressed that Christmas affirms God’s continued presence among His people.

He lamented the persistent insecurity tearing communities apart and called on leaders to demonstrate greater commitment to easing the suffering of citizens, noting that while Nigeria has enough resources to feed its people, it cannot satisfy the greed of a few.

Drawing parallels between the birth of Christ and present realities, Kukah recalled that Jesus was born amid poverty and violence, likening King Herod’s massacre of innocent children to modern-day attacks on vulnerable populations. He expressed concern over the plight of Nigerian children affected by conflict, referencing the Chibok and Dapchi abductions and more recent mass kidnappings.

“These children are our future,” he said, describing the situation as a failure of governance and a moral crisis. He attributed the security challenges to poor governance, poverty, miseducation, and moral decline, particularly in northern Nigeria. (Daily Trust)