As Nigerians join the rest of the world to celebrate Easter, the Lagos State Government has urged residents to prioritise safety and exercise caution, while Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, called on residents of the state to be vigilant and security-conscious during the festive period.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made the call in a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, on Thursday in Lagos. Oke-Osanyitolu described Easter as a time for celebration, reflection, and increased social activities.

“It also comes with heightened risks—particularly on major roads, in crowded public gatherings, and within homes where improper handling of electrical appliances and open flames could result in fire outbreaks,” he said.

He advised motorists to obey traffic regulations, avoid reckless driving, and ensure their vehicles are roadworthy before embarking on trips, just as he encouraged residents to remain vigilant in crowded places such as religious centres, recreational parks, and event venues, as alertness is critical in preventing accidents and ensuring prompt response to emergencies.

The Ondo State Governor, on the other hand, assured that the lives and property of the people would be adequately protected, as robust and comprehensive security measures had been put in place across the state for the festivities.

According to a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, he said: “Security agencies have been strategically deployed, with continuous surveillance and intelligence gathering to forestall any breach of peace. However, the government strongly advise residents to always remain vigilant and security-conscious, and to promptly report any suspicious movement or activity to relevant security agencies.”

THE Catholic Bishop of Oyo Diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo, has called for an end to impunity in Nigeria’s security crisis, as Christians celebrate Easter. Badejo made the call in a chat with newsmen in Ibadan.

Referencing Jesus’s promise to give life to the full, according to John 10:10, the bishop emphasised that Easter was for life and not death. Badejo remarked that leaders who failed to protect citizens and keep promises without fulfilment deserved no respect or recognition.

“Why are our leaders holding rousing rallies and conventions while our compatriots are being slaughtered? How come the most populous country in Africa has become so wickedly helpless while criminality escalates?

“Pope Leo said on Palm Sunday that God doesn’t listen to the prayers of war mongers. On that same day, innocent Nigerians were massacred in Jos, Kaduna and now Zamfara and who knows where next? Let’s understand that God will not listen to leaders who watch their subjects die needlessly either,” he said.

According to Badejo, the current Nigerian situation is evil and only evil people are not outraged by it. He enjoined leaders at all levels to act decisively to crush terrorists and restore sanity, calling for the security of Nigerian lives as the only acceptable Easter wish.

The bishop questioned the disparity in the government’s response to different groups.

He worried that security agents are “vigorous in crushing and arresting protesters, drug addicts and internet fraudsters but suddenly become weak as jelly with terrorists, kidnappers and murderers”.

He urged President Bola Tinubu to act urgently, saying “Nigerians are simply fed up with empty promises, palliatives, condolences and apologies.

Similarly, the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria yesterday condemned the killing of 27 persons in three Plateau State communities on the evening of March 29, 2026, describing the attack as a “sacrilege against the sanctity of life” on one of Christianity’s holiest days.

In a statement issued from its head office in Abuja and signed by the Secretary General, Rev. Fr. Michael A. Banjo, and the National Director of Social Communications, Rev. Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh, the Secretariat said the villages of Angwan Rukuba, Gari Ya Waye, and Atakyu were turned into slaughterhouses while faithful held palms in honour of the Prince of Peace.

The Secretariat called on the Federal Government and security agencies to immediately identify, arrest, and prosecute perpetrators and sponsors of the dastardly act. The Secretariat also urged the government to conduct a thorough inquiry into official negligence or complicity; effect urgent strengthening of intelligence and proactive security deployment; and provide immediate humanitarian relief, medical assistance, and support for affected families.

“While some faithful in Plateau State at daytime held palms in honour of the Prince of Peace, the forces of darkness turned the peaceful villages of Angwan Rukuba, Gari Ya Waye, and Atakyu into slaughterhouses. This was not just a security breach, but a sacrilege against the sanctity of life on one of the holiest days of the Christian calendar,” the statement said.

MEANWHILE, some transport operators in Lagos have expressed concern over the low passenger turnout ahead of the Easter celebrations, attributing the development to rising fuel costs and economic hardship. The operators expressed their worries in Lagos yesterday.

Mr Christian Omoh, Manager of Bonnyway Transport, Jibowu branch, said passenger traffic had dropped significantly compared to the same period in the previous year. He noted that the high cost of diesel, which he put at about N1,800 to N1,900 per litre, had forced transporters to increase fares, thereby discouraging many travellers.

“Last year, we were charging about N20,000 to N21,000 to the eastern part of the country, but now fares range between N30,000 and N35,000. This has affected movement as many people can no longer afford to travel compared to last year. The turnout this year has been very low,” he said.

He noted that transport operators who would typically load two to three buses daily during festive periods were now struggling to fill even half a bus. “The economy is affecting everything. We have seen only a few passengers today, unlike last year, when there was heavy movement,” Omoh added.

He appealed to the Federal Government to intervene by reducing the price of diesel and addressing the high cost of vehicle maintenance. “If diesel price comes down, transport fares will also reduce. The cost of spare parts is also high. We need government support,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Ajayioba Gabriel, Branch Manager of Chisco Transport Nigeria Ltd., on his part, stated that the usual Easter rush had yet to begin, noting that passenger movement remained low. “We have not been having much traffic; it is just normal movement. Compared to previous years, the rush has not started,” he said.

Gabriel attributed the situation to the rising cost of fuel, which he said had significantly increased operational expenses. “Fuelling a bus now costs between N600,000 and N700,000. Diesel has risen from about N850 per litre to over N1,900, which is more than a 100 per cent increase,” he said.

He explained that transport fares had been adjusted in line with rising costs, with the luxury bus fares jumping from N35,000 to N40,000 on some routes. Gabriel argued that many Nigerians were opting not to travel due to the high cost of transportation, stressing that transport operators were also struggling to break even.

Some travellers also decried the sharp increase in inter-state transport fares, saying the development had disrupted their travel plans. (Guardian)