Eid-el-Fitr can be moment for unity in Nigeria, says Christian leader

Daniel Okoh said the values celebrated during Ramadan – kindness, sacrifice and care for the vulnerable – should also guide Nigerians toward national cohesion.

The Christian Association of Nigeria called for national renewal and religious freedom to enable the country to respond to insecurity, days before the latest kidnapping attack on a church.

Terrorists seized eight Christians from a morning service on Sunday 22 March at an ECWA (Evangelical Church Winning All) church in Omugo community in the Irepodun Local Government of Kwara State, in the North Central part of the country.

Two days earlier, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, who heads the Christ Holy Church International and is president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), had issued a message congratulating Nigerian Muslims on the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations and urging them to see the Ramadan period as a time of spiritual reflection and growth.

He emphasised that the values celebrated during Ramadan – kindness, sacrifice and care for the vulnerable – should also guide Nigerians toward national cohesion.

“But we can only grow, we can only develop and witness economic development under an atmosphere of unity, religious freedom, and mutual respect for one another”, he said.

“At a time like this, our nation needs unity more than ever. From insecurity to religious freedom, economic hardship, the challenges before us are real, but so too is our shared strength.”

Okoh acknowledged Nigeria’s diversity, urging citizens to view differences in faith, ethnicity, and culture as a source of strength rather than a cause for division.

He emphasised that the CAN believes the nation thrives only when its people stand together: “Not divided by faith or ethnicity, but united by a common purpose and a shared future.”

He encouraged Nigerians to reject discord, prioritise dialogue over distrust and act in ways that heal rather than harm the country’s social fabric. Okoh also highlighted the need for collective peace and progress, framing Eid as a moment to reset national priorities.

CAN’s prayers, Okoh added, also focused on wisdom, compassion and ethical guidance for Nigeria’s leaders, emphasising the responsibility of governance during this pivotal time.

“Let this Eid be more than a celebration – let it be a reset for our national conscience. I pray for joy, health and peace for all Nigerian families,” he said.

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