Tinubu’s Christmas Message Urges Peace, Unity Amid Security Challenges

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu extended warm Christmas greetings to Nigerians on December 25, 2025, invoking the birth of Jesus Christ as a timeless call for peace, hope, and goodwill amid the nation’s ongoing security and unity struggles.

In his annual message, released via official channels including the State House website and social media, Tinubu prayed for the abiding love of Christ, urging reflection on salvation and harmony. “Beyond the celebration and festivities of this season, Christmas reminds us to reflect on the significance of Jesus Christ’s birth and his message of salvation as the Prince of Peace,” he stated, wishing Christians in Nigeria and worldwide a Merry Christmas.

Tinubu expressed gratitude for his leadership role since 2023, reaffirming his pledge to enshrine religious freedom and shield all faiths from violence. This comes against a backdrop of persistent insecurity, including recent clashes in the Middle Belt and banditry in the North West. Recent reports from Premium Times and Vanguard highlight over 1,200 deaths from farmer-herder conflicts and kidnappings in 2025 alone, per data from the Nigeria Security Tracker by the Council on Foreign Relations—issues Tinubu addressed by underscoring Christians’ contributions to national progress.

He praised Nigerian Christians for embodying Gospel values through aid to the vulnerable, promotion of tolerance, and community peacebuilding. “The love of Christ and the message of the Gospel have inspired many Christians to care for the less privileged,” Tinubu noted, honoring their resilience amid despair.

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Reiterating his administration’s security commitments, the President vowed unwavering action under God and the Constitution to ensure safe worship and aspirations for all, regardless of ethnicity or belief. “No one should suffer for professing and practising his faith,” he declared, highlighting shared values across faiths as the glue binding Nigeria’s diversity.

Tinubu referenced ongoing dialogues with Christian and Muslim leaders to combat intolerance and insecurity, pledging deeper government-religious collaboration for coexistence. This aligns with his 2025 engagements, such as meetings with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Sultan of Sokoto, amid criticisms from rights groups like Amnesty International over rising faith-based attacks.

As millions travel for Yuletide reunions—Nigerian Immigration Service reporting over 500,000 border crossings in the past week—Tinubu urged road safety and discipline. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has deployed extra patrols, warning of heightened accidents during holidays.

Looking ahead, Tinubu expressed optimism in divine providence and collective resolve to forge a prosperous Nigeria. “We will continue the work of building a greater Nigeria—one that future generations will be proud of,” he concluded, extending Merry Christmas and advance New Year wishes.

The message, signed as President, Commander-in-Chief, resonates in a year marked by economic reforms and security pushes, including military offensives against Boko Haram affiliates. It echoes Tinubu’s past addresses, like his 2024 message focusing on economic recovery, while adapting to 2025’s realities of inflation above 30% (National Bureau of Statistics) and displacement from violence.