Shettima Calls for National Unity as Nigerians Observe Ramadan, Lent [FULL STATEMENT]
Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Nigerians to use the concurrent observance of Ramadan and the Christian Lenten season to promote national unity and show compassion toward fellow citizens.
The statement was issued by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, on 19th February, 2026.
In the statement, the Vice President described the period as an opportunity for spiritual renewal and collective nation-building.
He emphasised that the sacred season goes beyond religious rituals, urging citizens to actively engage in addressing the nation’s challenges.
His statement reads, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Nigerians to use the concurrent observance of Ramadan and the Christian Lenten season to strengthen national unity and demonstrate practical compassion toward fellow citizens.
He particularly described the period as an opportunity for both spiritual renewal and collective nation-building. The sacred month requires more than religious ritual, just as he called for active engagement in addressing the nation’s challenges.
“Let us not only feed the hungry, but uplift the weary; not only give charity, but extend kindness; not only pray for peace, but work for justice. This is the true essence of Ramadan.
He described Ramadan as “a journey of the soul and a time for deep reflection, for self-purification, and for embracing the true essence of Islam—peace, patience, sacrifice, and service to humanity.”
VP Shettima also paid tribute to Nigeria’s religious leaders across faiths, whom he described as “the moral and spiritual compass of the nation,” acknowledging their role in shaping the country’s ethical foundation during this period when both major religious communities engage in spiritual disciplines.
The Vice President called for prayers for national stability during the holy season, urging that “we must strengthen the bonds that unite us and reject the forces that seek to divide us.”
He also requested prayers for Bola Ahmed Tinubu, asking that divine guidance grant the President “wisdom, strength, and foresight to pilot the affairs of our great nation,” the statement concluded.
