The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has called on Muslim faithful to dedicate the holy month of Ramadan to praying for Nigeria’s unity and peace.
Speaking at the Iftar (Break of Fast) with Muslim members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja, Musa emphasized the need for collective faith and solidarity to overcome the nation’s challenges.
“So I want to encourage us, in whatever ways we find ourselves, let us always remember that God Almighty is the one who has created us, brought us to this world, and has put us as Nigerians,” Musa said. “We need to continue to stay together, to walk together, to love one another. That is the only way we can make this country grow.”
Highlighting threats to national stability, he added, “There are a lot of people that don’t mean us well, for whatever reasons they have, but God Almighty is with us and He will never let us down. Let us continue to pray for our country, so that our country will continue to grow and develop. All those evil ones planning evil, whether they are bandits or terrorists or kidnappers, God will expose all of them and those supporting them.”
The Chief Imam of the Defence Headquarters, Navy Captain Gidado Migdad, described Ramadan as a divine opportunity for spiritual renewal. “Ramadan fast is an annual bonanza from Allah to multiply, reward, and quadruple the chances of getting closer to Him,” he said. Migdad urged the faithful to seize this period by showing kindness to the less privileged and empathizing with the poor, calling it a time of “moral and spiritual awakening.”
Reflecting on the Iftar event, Migdad noted that breaking the fast with the CDS symbolized “solidarity, camaraderie, which galvanised a sense of beauty, unity, and love” among the armed forces community. The gathering underscored a shared commitment to faith and national harmony amid ongoing security concerns.