President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended warm greetings to Nigerian Christians and Muslims observing Lent and Ramadan, describing the rare simultaneous start of both sacred seasons as a powerful reminder of shared faith and national unity.
In a personally signed statement released on Wednesday, February 18, 2026—hours after public attention was drawn to the initial absence of any presidential message—the President addressed the faithful directly.
“With profound reverence to God Almighty, I greet the Christian and Muslim faithful on the solemn occasions of Lent and Ramadan,” Tinubu said.
He highlighted the historic coincidence, noting that Lent and Ramadan beginning on the same day—a convergence not seen in over three decades—underscores the common spiritual heritage of Nigeria’s diverse population.
“This year, Lent and Ramadan begin on the same day. This is not a common occurrence, and it reminds us that as a people of faith, we share a lot in common and are one people under God.”
The President reflected on the significance of each observance:
– For Christians, Lent is a 40-day period of fasting, abstinence, and penitence, mirroring Jesus Christ’s time in the wilderness before His crucifixion, which brought salvation to humanity.
– For Muslims, Ramadan is a sacred month of total submission to God, marked by obligatory fasting, deep spiritual reflection, devotion, sacrifice, communal love, charity, and obedience to Islamic injunctions—one of the five pillars of Islam.
Tinubu urged Nigerians to use the holy seasons to strengthen good neighbourliness, peace, unity, and national stability.
“As a nation and as a people, I urge us, as we embark on these important observances, to ensure good neighbourliness, promote peace, unity, and stability, and pray for the progress and security of our nation,” he said.
“Let us live by the good precepts of our faiths and be honourable in our duty to God and fellow humans.”
He concluded with a prayer: “I pray that the lessons, blessings, and joys of these sacred seasons abide with us always.”
The message follows widespread reactions earlier in the day to the lack of an official presidential felicitation, especially given Nigeria’s deep religious diversity and the symbolic importance of the two major fasting periods aligning for the first time in 33 years.
Both Ramadan and Lent call for self-discipline, compassion, prayer, and reflection—values the President invited all Nigerians to embrace for the collective progress and harmony of the nation.
