The Federal Government on Monday declared Thursday, December 25, 2025, Friday, December 26, 2025, and Thursday, January 1, 2026, as public holidays to mark Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year celebrations.

The declaration was made by the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on behalf of the government.

In a statement, the minister extended Christmas and New Year greetings to Christians in Nigeria and abroad, as well as to all Nigerians marking the end of the year and the beginning of a new one.

The holiday declaration coincides with directives from the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who ordered the strategic deployment of police personnel and operational assets nationwide to ensure security during the festive season.

The directive mandates all zonal Assistant Inspectors-General and state commissioners of police to intensify patrols, visibility policing, intelligence-led operations, and community engagement.

A statement by the Force spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, said specialised units, including the Police Mobile Force, Counter-Terrorism Unit, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Command, Intelligence Response Team, Special Tactical Squad, Special Intervention Squad, Highway Patrol, Marine Police, and the Airwing, have been placed on heightened operational readiness.

“In line with the Force’s proactive security strategy for the festive season, the IGP has directed all Zonal AIGs and State Command CPs to intensify patrols, visibility policing, intelligence-led operations, and confidence-building engagements throughout the period.

“Specialised units, including the Police Mobile Force, Counter-Terrorism Unit, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Command, Intelligence Response Team, Special Tactical Squad, Special Intervention Squad, Highway Patrol, Marine Police, and the Airwing, have been placed on heightened operational readiness,” the statement read.

Hundeyin said the deployment covers places of worship, recreational centres, markets, parks, event venues, transport terminals, highways, critical national infrastructure, and other high-density public areas.

“Additional patrol teams and surveillance units have also been activated to cover inter-state routes and major expressways to prevent road-related crimes, traffic disorder, and accidents.

“The deployed officers have been charged to be firm but courteous in the discharge of their duties,” he added.

He further instructed all police commands to sustain raids on identified blackspots, forests, criminal hideouts, and flashpoints, while strengthening collaboration with other security agencies.

The Inspector General urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, celebrate responsibly, and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or through designated emergency lines.

State commands also announced robust security measures.

In Kano State, the Commissioner of Police, Adamu Bakori, directed operational commanders to ensure adequate security at worship centres and recreational facilities, maintain round-the-clock patrols, manage traffic, and ban car racing, unauthorised horse riding, and fireworks.

In Kogi State, the Commissioner of Police, Naziru Kankarofi, deployed reinforced police personnel along the Lokoja–Abuja highway to ensure public safety, traffic control, and prevention of accidents.

“The deployment follows ongoing construction and road diversions along the highway, which have resulted in increased vehicular movement and traffic clustering,” said the command’s spokesman, William Aya.

The Sokoto State Police Command launched “Operation Peaceful Celebration 2025,” involving massive personnel deployment, enhanced patrols, traffic control, and intensified intelligence gathering.

“24-hour motorised and foot patrols, supported by anti-crime surveillance teams, will dominate both urban and rural areas to deter criminal activity and ensure rapid response to emergencies,” the command said.

It also banned fireworks and firecrackers across the state.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Jigawa State deployed officers across the 27 local government areas to secure worship centres, public spaces, parks, and markets.

In a statement made available to journalists by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Badaruddeen Tijjani, in Dutse, on Monday, the NSCDC said the deployment included regular and specialised units. He specified that the deployment combined Operations, Anti-Vandal Unit, and Intelligence to provide effective security coverage across all worship centres, places of gathering, parks, markets, among others.

“Places of worship, public utilities, and vulnerable areas are being protected, with major entry and exit routes manned for surveillance,” the statement noted.

In Abuja, the FCT Administration intensified security through its task force, Operation Sweep.

The operation, carried out on Monday, focused on motor parks, shanties and other suspected crime hotspots as part of efforts to ensure a safe and secure festive season for residents. Speaking to journalists after the exercise, the Director of the Security Services Department of the FCTA, Mr Adamu Gwary, said the operation was aimed at strengthening security across the territory throughout the festive period and beyond. Gwary, who was represented by the Secretary of the Command and Control Centre, Dr Peter Olumuji, disclosed that the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, had issued a firm directive to all security agencies operating under Operation Sweep to rid the territory of all forms of criminality. He noted that the task force had recorded significant successes since its commencement, adding that the operation was being sustained through continuous monitoring of motor parks and other vulnerable locations. According to him, illegal motor parks allegedly being used by “one-chance” criminal syndicates to abduct unsuspecting residents were being dismantled, while shanties believed to harbour criminal elements were also being destroyed. “Any place harbouring criminal elements, including shanties, is being destroyed. “We want to tell all miscreants and criminal elements in the FCT that the territory will be too hot for them to operate. “We don’t have a safe haven for criminals in the FCT anymore, and they should take note of that,” Olumuji said.

Also, the Head of the Enforcement Unit of the FCT Social Development Secretariat, Mrs Ukachi Adebayo, said 181 beggars had been cleared from the streets and are currently undergoing rehabilitation at the secretariat. According to her, those arrested included 45 males, 77 females and 59 children, adding that those who wished to be repatriated would be returned to their states of origin. “The beggars arrested are currently in our holding centre. When we apprehend them, we profile them, take care of their welfare and train those who are willing to be trained,” she said.

Congratulating Nigerians, Tunji-Ojo said, “The Christmas season and the New Year present an opportunity for Nigerians to strengthen the bonds of unity, show compassion to one another, and renew our collective commitment to nation-building.” He urged Christians to reflect on love, peace, humility, and sacrifice, and called on all Nigerians to pray for national peace and support government development efforts.

The minister further advised citizens to remain law-abiding, security-conscious, and moderate in celebrations, and to cooperate with security agencies to ensure a peaceful festive season.