Governor Yahaya Bello has urged Nigerians to promote peace, unity and good neighbourliness as Christians celebrate Christmas.

Mr Bello gave the advice in his goodwill message to Christians through a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Mohammed, in Lokoja on Sunday.

Mr Bello admonished Nigerians to embody God’s love for humanity and extend it to their neighbours during the festive season.

The Kogi governor emphasised that the season symbolised hope for humanity and encouraged the citizenry to maintain a positive outlook.

Mr Bello called for sober reflection and prayers for peace, unity and togetherness, especially when the country navigated a new economic course.

He called for prayers for leaders at all levels of government and advocated for acts of kindness toward the less privileged to foster love and peaceful coexistence.

The governor assured the people of his administration’s commitment to peace, security and safety, expressing joy over the remarkable progress in socio-economic growth and infrastructure development.

Mr Bello commended the citizens’ support and commitment to the state’s progress since his tenure in 2016, which would be winding down on January 27, 2024.

The Kogi governor promised that the quarterly distribution of palliatives to cushion the effects of subsidy removal would be sustained by the incoming administration.

He commended the people for their peaceful conduct and support during the recent governorship election, expressing confidence that Governor-elect Ahmed Ododo would uphold and build on the legacy of his administration for inclusive growth.

The governor reassured the people of their safety during the celebrations, adding that Kogi is prepared to handle any security challenges. Therefore, he cautioned against crimes, stating that Kogi remained unconducive to criminals. 

(NAN)