Nigerian President Highlights Shared Faith as Lent and Ramadan Coincide
ABUJA—President Bola Tinubu has extended formal greetings to Nigeria’s Christian and Muslim communities as the 2026 Lenten season and Ramadan commence on the same day, calling the rare alignment a potent symbol of national unity under God.
In a statement released by the State House on February 18, 2026, the President noted the concurrent start of the two major religious observances is an uncommon event. “With profound reverence to God Almighty, I greet the Christian and Muslim faithful on the solemn occasions of Lent and Ramadan,” Tinubu stated.
He framed the coincidence as a reminder of common spiritual ground. “This year, Lent and Ramadan begin on the same day. This is not a common occurrence, and it reminds us that as a people of faith, we share a lot in common and are one people under God,” the President said.
The statement provided brief explanations of each period. For Christians, Lent is a 40-day season of fasting, abstinence, and penitence commemorating the wilderness fast of Jesus Christ. For Muslims, Ramadan, one of Islam’s five pillars, is a month of dawn-to-dusk fasting, deep spiritual reflection, and heightened charity, representing submission to God.
President Tinubu used the dual observance to appeal for peace and social cohesion amid Nigeria’s multifaceted challenges. He urged citizens to embody the ethical teachings of their faiths through “good neighbourliness,” promoting “peace, unity and stability.” He called on Nigerians to be “honourable in our duty to God and fellow humans.”
The President concluded with prayers that the spiritual lessons of both seasons would have a lasting impact. “I pray that the lessons, blessings and joys of these sacred seasons abide with us always,” he said.
The simultaneous occurrence of Lent and Ramadan arises from the different calendar systems used by the two faiths—Lent tied to the movable Gregorian calendar date of Easter, and Ramadan to the lunar Islamic calendar. This year’s alignment presents a notable opportunity for interfaith solidarity as millions of Nigerians engage in parallel traditions of fasting, prayer, and communal support. The President’s message underscores an official push to leverage this shared rhythm of devotion for broader national harmony and progress.
