The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has urged residents of the territory to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir with love and compassion while maintaining vigilance and respect for law and order.
Wike made the call in his 2026 Eid-el-Kabir message to FCT residents, in Abuja on Wednesday.
He assured the Muslim community that the FCT Administration had fully mobilised all relevant security agencies to be on guard towards ensuring a safe, hitch-free celebration.
He said that the administration would continue to promote unity and religious harmony in the territory.
Wike urged residents to show deep compassion to the less privileged, reject divisive rumours, and foster harmony in homes, workplaces, marketplaces, and places of worship.
To emphasise the importance of unity, the minister described Abuja as a miniature Nigeria built on unity across tribes, tongues, and faiths.
He called on the residents to channel the spiritual lessons of Eid-el-Kabir — sacrifice, obedience, and selflessness — into active civic responsibility to help build a world-class city.
“It was a profound reminder of Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) unwavering faith and willingness to place the common good above personal desire,” he said.
He noted that the modern expression of the obedience taught by Eid-el-Kabir required residents to make sacrifices of patience and discipline.
He urged the public to keep Abuja streets clean, obey traffic and building regulations, pay taxes promptly, and cooperate with security agencies.
“If Eid-el-Kabir teaches sacrifice for a greater purpose, then the FCT symbolises what sacrifice can build: a place of peace, order, and shared prosperity,” the minister said.
He reaffirmed the FCT administration’s commitment to the developmental goals of President Bola Tinubu’s government.
Wike revealed that massive, inclusive infrastructural projects that would trigger growth across critical economic sectors and benefit both the city centre and rural areas would be officially inaugurated in a few weeks.
Commending FCT residents for their patience during the ongoing construction, the minister explained that the projects align with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to transform Abuja into an enviable global capital.
Noting the commemoration of the 2026 Children’s Day, which coincided with Eid-el-Kabir, the minister described children as the “heartbeat of the FCT” and the promise of Nigeria’s tomorrow.
He called on parents, teachers, and community leaders to use the dual celebration to instill the values of sacrifice, honesty, discipline, and patriotism in the young ones.
“As we honor Prophet Ibrahim’s obedience, let us also nurture our children with love, protect their rights, and invest in quality education, healthcare, and safe spaces for them to thrive.
“A city that secures its children secures its future”, Wike said.
He commended the orderly conduct of FCT pilgrims in Mecca, asking them and the entire Muslim community to use the sacred period to pray for the peace, unity, and prosperity of Nigeria.
“On behalf of the FCT administration, I extend my warmest wishes for a joyous, peaceful, and spiritually rewarding Eid-el-Kabir to all Muslim faithfuls and to every resident of the capital territory.
“May Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) accept our sacrifices, answer our prayers, and continue to bless the FCT and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Eid Mubarak”, the minister said.
