Nigeria, May 10 -- The federal government has declared Wednesday and Thursday, May 12 and 13, as public holidays to mark this year's Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Shuaib Belgore, on Monday.

The statement quoted the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, as making the declaration on behalf of the federal government in Abuja.

According to the statement, the minister congratulated Muslims and called on all Nigerians to use the period of this year's Eid-el-Fitr celebration to pray for peace, stability and economic transformation in the country.

"Aregbesola who believes that development cannot thrive in a rancorous atmosphere, urged all Nigerians to be law...