Public holidays in Nigeria
Nigeria has many public holidays declared by the government, as well as special days observed by the public.[1]
Public holidays
| Holiday | Date | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 January | Commemorates the beginning of the calendar year. | [1] |
| Easter | 3-6 April | Celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. | [1] |
| Workers' Day | 1 May | Commemorates Workers' Labour Movement internationally. | [1] |
| Democracy Day | 12 June | Commemorates the return to democracy in Nigeria. | [1] |
| Independence Day | 1 October | Commemorates the Independence of Nigeria from Britain. | [1] |
| Christmas Day | 25 December | Christian holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus. | [1] |
| Boxing Day | 26 December | Christian holiday commemorating the day after Christmas. | [1] |
Movable holidays
In addition, Nigeria officially celebrates a few moveable holidays, which occur on different dates every year. These include religious dates observed by different cultural groups.[2]
| Holiday | Date | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mawlid | 12 Rabi' al-awwal | Muslim holiday celebrating the birthday of Muhammad. | [2] |
| Eid al-Adha | 10 Dhu al-Hijjah | Muslim holiday celebrating the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son. | |
| Eid al-Fitr | 1 Shawwal | Muslim holiday celebrating the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting. | [2] |
| Good Friday | Friday before Easter (March or April) | Christian holiday celebrating the crucifixion of Jesus. | |
| Easter Monday | Monday after Easter (March or April) | Christian holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus. |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Public holidays and oda days of observance in Nigeria for 2025". BBC News Pidgin. 1 January 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
- ^ a b c "Nigerian Food Habits". Fork, Fingers & Chopsticks. Fall 2001. Retrieved 2025-11-02 – via Gale General OneFile.