Pray hard for troops battling insecurity, Tinubu tells Nigerians

President Bola Tinubu has implored Nigerians to offer fervent prayers for troops on the frontline. 

Speaking with journalists on Friday at Dodan Barracks in Lagos, where he observed the Eid-al-Adha prayers, Tinubu said Nigerians should include security agencies and vulnerable citizens in their prayers.

“We should remember to pray and give to those who are very vulnerable in the spirit of the season, which is sacrifice,” Tinubu said.

“We must unite, remain our brothers’ keeper, and give to our neighbours. We should show love to everyone.

“We must also pray hard for our troops to keep us safe. They are making sacrifices in the challenges that we face from terrorism and banditry today.

“We must pray for them specifically, remember their sacrifices and continue to behave well as citizens.”

Delivering the khutbah, Suleiman Abu-Nola, the chief Imam of Lagos, asked Muslims to remember the significance of Eid-al-Adha by being generous and peaceable.

“The whole essence of today is sacrifice. We must learn to make sacrifices for our family, nation, and community. We must render our service to Allah, not men,” he said.

“If we are to see the Nigeria of our dreams, we must be ready to make sacrifices. We must unite as Nigerians to make progress.

“We must rise above tribal sentiments. Whether you are Igbo, Yoruba, or Hausa, we must live above ethnic sentiments.”

Among those present at the prayer ground were Mohammed Abubakar, minister of defence; Adegboyega Oyetola, minister of marine and blue economy; Bello Matawalle, minister of state for defence; Femi Hamzat, deputy governor of Lagos; and Babatunde Fashola, former governor of Lagos.

Also at the Eid ground were Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser; Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the Lagos house of assembly; Aliko Dangote, founder of Dangote Group; Abdul Rabiu, chairman of the BUA Group; Wale Tinubu, group chief executive of Oando; and Shaffideen Amuwo, Tinubu’s longtime ally.