Yuletide: ACF prays for peace, better times in Nigeria

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The Arewa Consultative Forum has extended Christmas and New Year goodwill messages to Christians in Nigeria and across the world, while calling for renewed prayers for peace, security and economic recovery in the country.

In a statement issued on Wednesday in Kaduna, the ACF congratulated Christians on the 2025 Christmas celebrations and wished Nigerians a “happy and prosperous 2026 New Year,” amid what it described as worsening social and economic challenges.

The statement, signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the forum, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, noted that the festive season was coming at a time of severe hardship for many families across the country.

According to the ACF, millions of Nigerians, particularly in the northern part of the country, are currently struggling to survive due to rising poverty, insecurity and economic instability.

“This year’s Christmas is coming at a time when many families are struggling for survival,” the forum said, adding that it was “deeply disturbing” that large segments of the population were living in dire conditions.

The socio-cultural group urged Nigerians to use the Christmas season to reflect, pray and work collectively towards national healing and unity.

“In the spirit of the season, Nigerians, irrespective of faith and political persuasion, should continue to pray for a return to peace, prosperity and progress,” the statement read.

The ACF also called on leaders at all levels to demonstrate empathy and sincerity in the discharge of their responsibilities to the people.

It prayed that Nigerian leaders, both temporal and spiritual, would be endowed with “the needed wisdom of empathy and love, truth and honesty, faith and righteousness in service to the people and the nation.”

On security, the forum expressed concern over persistent insecurity across the country and called for renewed commitment from security agencies.

It urged security agencies to strengthen their resolve in confronting terrorism, criminality and all forms of destabilisation threatening the country’s stability.

“Nigeria’s security agencies should be strengthened in fresh resolve as they move against all agents of terrorism, insecurity, criminality and social, economic and political destabilisation,” the ACF stated.

The forum further stressed the need for national unity, irrespective of ethnic, religious or political differences.

It expressed hope that the coming year would mark a turning point for the country, with improved governance and social cohesion.

“The year 2026 should usher in a resilient, determined and more hospitable Nigeria for the benefit of all citizens, irrespective of ethnicity, faith, political persuasion and social status,” the statement added.

The ACF concluded by offering prayers for divine intervention in the nation’s affairs and called on Nigerians to remain hopeful despite current challenges.

“God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement concluded.

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