.Says administration committed to religious freedom, protection of citizens
.Jonathan urges hope, unity, resilience
.As Bishop Odetoyinbo tasks Nigerian leaders to place common good above personal interest
.Archbishop Martins asks citizens to face violence with courage, embrace love
President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians to uphold unity, religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence, saying his administration remains committed to protecting the rights and safety of citizens of all faiths.
In his 2025 Christmas goodwill message released on Wednesday, the President congratulated Christians in Nigeria and across the world, describing Christmas as a season for reflection on the birth of Jesus Christ and his message of peace, love and hope.
Tinubu said the celebration went beyond festivities, noting that the message of Christ as the Prince of Peace was particularly relevant at a time of national challenges.
He assured Nigerians that his government was committed to entrenching religious freedom and safeguarding people of different beliefs from violence.
Tinubu said, “On this Holy Day, I wish all Christians in Nigeria and around the world a Merry Christmas.
I thank God for the opportunity to serve as the leader of our great country, and I pray for peace in our land, especially among individuals of differing religious beliefs.
“As your President, I remain committed to doing everything within my power to enshrine religious freedom in Nigeria and to protect all people of different faiths from violence.
“As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us also reflect on the many contributions that Christians in Nigeria, as followers of Christ, have made and continue to make toward the progress of our country.”
He said the love of Christ and the message of the Gospel had inspired many Nigerians to serve humanity selflessly, adding that their efforts deserved recognition.
Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to national security, unity and stability, stressing that all Nigerians had the right to live, worship and pursue their aspirations in safety and dignity.
According to him, no citizen should suffer discrimination or violence on the basis of ethnicity or religion, noting that love for God and humanity were shared values across faiths.
The President also disclosed that he had engaged leaders of the two major religions in the country throughout the year, particularly on concerns surrounding insecurity and religious intolerance.
He said the Federal Government would build on the engagements to strengthen collaboration with religious institutions, prevent conflicts and promote peaceful coexistence.
As Nigerians travel to celebrate the season with family and loved ones, Tinubu urged motorists to exercise patience and discipline on the roads, wishing travellers safe journeys.
“With confidence in divine providence and our collective strength, we will continue the work of building a greater Nigeria, one that future generations will be proud of.
“I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year in advance,” the President stated.
.Jonathan urges hope, unity, resilience
Former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, has extended Christmas greetings to Nigerians and friends of Nigeria around the world, calling on citizens to embrace hope, unity, and a renewed commitment to the nation’s shared destiny.
Jonathan made the call in a statement by his Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, on Wednesday in Abuja.
Jonathan reflected on the profound significance of Christmas as the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and God’s enduring promise of redemption and peace.
He urged citizens to draw strength from faith, hope, and unity amid ongoing national challenges.
“Christmas is a season that reminds us of the power of faith, humility, and selfless service, and of the enduring light that shines even in times of uncertainty,” he said.
Acknowledging the economic and social difficulties confronting many Nigerians, the former president urged citizens not to surrender to despair but to remain hopeful and resilient.
“The history of faith teaches us that hope is most powerful when it is tested.
“Just as the birth of Christ brought a new dawn to a world in search of direction, our collective faith and resilience will see us triumph over our present trials,” Jonathan said.
He emphasised the importance of peace, unity, and national cohesion, describing them as Nigeria’s greatest strengths.
“Our shared humanity and our willingness to live with compassion, mutual respect, and responsibility toward one another remain the foundation of a stronger nation,” he noted.
Jonathan, wishing all Nigerians a season filled with peace, joy, and hope, called on them to use the Christmas season to promote understanding and goodwill.
“Merry Christmas, and may the New Year bring renewed blessings to our Nation,” he said.
.As Bishop Odetoyinbo tasks Nigerian leaders to place common good above personal interest
Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta, Ogun State, Most Reverend Peter Odetoyinbo has urged Nigerian leaders to place the common good of the people above personal or regional interest.
The Bishop made the call in his Christmas message which was made available to newsmen, saying the cries of the poor, the unemployed, and the insecure must not go unheard.
The message which was titled, “In Jesus Christ is our Hope for Peace,” Rev. Odetoyinbo noted that no effort be spared to ensure that those in captivity are rescued and the security of lives and properties of Nigerians is restored.
He stressed that leaders and citizens alike should have a conversion of heart, adding “irrespective of tribe or religion, the dignity of every human life must be defended.
Most Rev. Odetoyinbo said, “As we celebrate the joyful mystery of Christmas—the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Once again, God enters our human history, not with noise or force, but in silence, humility, and love. He comes as a child laid in a manger, to remind us that our true hope for peace is found in Him alone.
“I am keenly aware that this Christmas does not feel easy for some of you. Some families in some part of our country will celebrate this Christmas without enough food on their tables or peace in their communities as a result of insecurity that is presently plaguing our country.
“Similarly, many young people today are burdened by unemployment and uncertainty about their future. Parents worry daily about school fees, rising costs of living, and how to provide for their families. Our farmers in some communities today live in fear due to insecurity, our traders struggle with instability, and our communities live with the pain of violence, fear, and poverty.
“To you who feel overwhelmed, discouraged, and forgotten, I say to you: God sees you and knows your pain. He is not far from your struggles. Remember that the first Christmas was born in hardship. Mary and Joseph were poor, displaced, and without shelter. Yet it was precisely there, in that fragile and difficult moment, that God chose to dwell among us.
“The angels proclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of goodwill” (Luke 2:14). This peace is not the absence of problems, but the presence of Christ in the midst of them. Jesus does not promise a life without suffering; He promises a heart strengthened by hope, a courage rooted in faith, as well as joy and peace that no hardship can steal.”
Continuing, he said, “Our nation is wounded by hunger, poverty, unemployment, corruption, insecurity etc, therefore, our message at this Christmas is a clarion call on all of us – leaders and citizens alike- to conversion of heart. Peace will not come through violence, greed or indifference. Peace begins when we recognize one another as brothers and sisters irrespective of tribe or religion, when we defend the dignity of every human life, and when we choose justice over selfish gains.
“This Christmas period invites us to be instruments of God’s peace and joy. I urge families to rediscover love, forgiveness, and prayer in the home. I encourage everyone in whatever measure, little or much to share generously with those in difficult situations. Let us not allow hardship to harden our hearts. Instead, let it open our eyes to the suffering of others and let us offer joy and hope to them.
“To our public leaders and those entrusted with authority, I appeal with the voice of the Church: place the common good above personal or regional interest. The cries of the poor, the unemployed, and the insecure must not go unheard. Those in IDP camps around the country are not just mere numbers but citizens of our country who are victims of a troubled nation.”
The Bishop noted, “Those still in the den of kidnappers await our common effort to rescue them and reunite them with their families. Those besieged by insurgency look forward to the restoration of peace in their communities. Therefore, let no effort be spared to ensure that they are rescued and the security of lives and properties of Nigerians is restored.
“Christmas assures us that darkness does not have the final word. Since the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it (John 1:5). Even now, Christ is born anew—in your patience, endurance, acts of kindness, and refusal to lose hope.
“As we celebrate this sacred season, I invite you to place your worries, families, work, and our beloved country at the manger of the Child Jesus. Let us trust that the God who began this good work in us will bring it to fulfilment.
“I pray that this Christmas will renew your strength, restore your joy, and fill your hearts with the peace that only Jesus Christ can give. May Jesus, the Prince of Peace, heal our wounded land, comfort the afflicted, and guide us towards a future of justice, unity, and hope. May Mary, the Mother of Jesus, visit our country, families and communities with peace and joy.”
.Archbishop Martins asks citizens to face violence with courage, embrace love
In a solemn and urgent Christmas message, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins, has expressed the need for giving thanks to God for the joy of celebrating another Christmas despite many challenges that we face individually and as a country. He declared that Nigeria is right in the middle of a tide of criminal violence, fear, and a feeling of despair among many citizens.
He therefore called for people not to lose hope but live in the hope that can be assured only by God himself, the one in whom hope does not disappoint. As we hope in God, he said: “We must also insist that everyone, especially those in government at all levels and all politicians should work intentionally, in order to generate hope in our people; not simply by empty platitudes, but in courageous and meaningful action to stem the tide of fear and criminal activities in the land”.
In his 2025 Christmas message signed by the Director of Social Communications, Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu, he lamented that the government has not done enough to provide the most fundamental assurance to its citizens: the hope of a secure and dignified future.
Archbishop Martins said: “while we are not oblivious of the efforts being made by the government, we must also admit that the present reality of insecurity and pervasive fear have made it almost impossible for the average Nigerian to thrive or even dream with confidence”. We must continue to challenge the nation’s leadership to urgently bring an end to the kidnappings and killings and so give assurance to communities of people who feel that they are being targeted and under siege by criminal elements in the country. Our citizens do not need mere promises but decisive action that secures our farms, our roads, our schools, and our places of worship. After all said and done, the primary duty of the state is to protect the life and properties of her citizens.
On another note, Archbishop Martins urged Nigerians not to succumb to despair and despondency. “The coming of Christ at Christmas is God’s definitive entry into a world of struggle and a potent intervention in human history. So, our hope is not a distant reality but a call to embody his presence here and now as we show love, empathy and kindness towards one another, especially those who are most in need among us. We must all remember that the true essence of this season lies in a selflessness that fights for justice, a humility that serves the broken among us, and a love that dismantles walls of division”.
The Archbishop’s message concluded with a powerful vision of national renewal. “The national transformation that we long for will surely come,” Archbishop Martins said, “if we all choose to obey the fundamental commandments of God; to love Him and our neighbor but also to uphold the rule of law.
We must learn to live at peace with one another, irrespective of religion, tribe, or political affiliation.” “Let this Christmas be a turning point,” he urged. “Let us put aside hatred, embrace our shared humanity, and work tirelessly to build a Nigeria where every person can live with dignity, free from fear and oppression. Let us build bridges, not walls. The light of Christ, shining in our hearts and actions, is the sure foundation for the brighter future we all seek,” he said.
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