Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday gave an assurance that government would protect Nigerians in their places of worship and ensure that they practised their chosen faith in freedom.
It comes amidst concern over security at places of worship during festivities.
“On the part of government, you have our assurance that we shall continue to live by example, working hard and diligently every day to restore the years that the canker worms have eaten,” Osinbajo said at the Christian Centre during the Service of Nine Lessons Christmas Carol.
“Government will continue to dutifully protect lives and property with all the means at its disposal while also protecting the life of every Nigerian to freely worship in their chosen faith.
“We shall continue to pursue dialogue, reconciliation and nation building as we continue to focus on some of the areas of divergence and differences in our national lives.
Places of worship have been repeatedly attacked during festivities.
In 2011, series of bomb attacks and shootings occurred at several locations in northern Nigeria during Christmas Day service.
The targets were churches in Madalla, Jos, Gadaka and Adamawa. A total 41 people were reported killed.
John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, described Christmas as a special celebration of the Christian faith that involved the whole world.
“It is a season for sharing, for expressing solidarity and for reaching out to others, especially to the poor and needy.
“There must not be less generosity among us all; perhaps we must seriously consider this year with the exchange of gifts; there are so many of our countrymen who are in distress and poverty.
“This is a spiritual asset which will make a positive impact in our land; true religion must be for peace, for justice, for honesty and harmony.
“Christmas is a time for us to take up anew the challenges of fashioning good relations among our religious communities.’’
He said Christmas was a season for sharing, for expressing solidarity and for reaching out to others especially to the poor and needy. (NAN)
