Nigerian Christians have been urged to use the Easter period to pray for the nation to overcome the dreaded coronavirus.
President Muhammadu Buhari gave the call in his Easter message to Christians on Friday. He said this year’s commemoration came amid the grip of COVID-19.
Nigeria has been hit with 288 cases of Coronavirus with 51 people recovering from the disease and seven death.
He said: “Unprecedented in living memory, majority of Christians have found themselves marking Easter in a subdued manner, away from the usual congregation in churches. This is unusual and very unfortunate.
“However, I wish to enjoin our Christian compatriots to rekindle their faith in Christ who overcame persecution, sufferings and displayed endurance, steadfastness and above all piety.
“Jesus Christ represented man’s ability to withstand temporary pains in the hope of everlasting glory,” he said.
Buhari urged Christians to imbibe and live the values of humility, discipline, perseverance, sacrifice and obedience which Jesus Christ demonstrated during His stay on earth.
“There is no better opportunity than now for all Christians in particular, and Nigerians in general, to remain faithful and hopeful that with intensified prayers backed by personal and collective responsibility, the nation shall pull through this most difficult trial.
“I have no doubt that if all stakeholders – individuals and groups – play their part to the fullest as advised by our scientists and medical experts in confronting Covid-19, the inherent resilience and determination of our people will enable us to pull through.
“As I stated in my national broadcast on Sunday, March 29, 2020, since there is currently no known vaccine against the virus, “the best and most efficient way to avoid getting infected is through regular hygiene and sanitary practices as well as social distancing,” he added.
The president commended the encouraging containment and ameliorating strategies put in place by members of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19.
He said he was aware of the personal and collective inconveniences suffered by the people due to measures such as restriction of movements and closure of business premises.
“Being “a matter of life and death,” these sacrifices are in everybody’s interest to save our country from calamity.
“The welfare of our people is paramount. Accordingly, the most economically vulnerable in our communities will continue to be uppermost in our plans, and efforts will be made to supply them with basic means of survival.
“While we see the Covid-19 pandemic as a global challenge, this administration is not oblivious of the constant threat posed to our national security by terrorists and insurgents.
“They may take this opportunity to perpetrate attacks. But our armed forces and other security and intelligence services will remain vigilant and continue to contain these threats and consolidate efforts to eradicate them completely,” he stated.