Beloved People of Nigeria, merry Christmas to you all. We bring you greetings of peace, love, and joy as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
At Christmas, we celebrate the glorious mystery of the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. His name is Emmanuel, which means God with us. His coming into the world is God’s decisive answer to human darkness, fear, and brokenness. In a world troubled by uncertainty, injustice, violence, and despair, the birth of Christ proclaims that light still shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it (John 1:5).
The manger in Bethlehem reminds us that God enters human history not with force but with love; not with threats, but with peace; not with condemnation, but with hope.
Nigeria, as a nation, is passing through challenging times, economic hardship, insecurity, social tension, and anxiety about the future, yet Christmas assures us that God has not abandoned us. The Prince of Peace was born to heal wounded hearts, reconcile divided peoples, and restore dignity to the oppressed. His birth calls us to reject hatred, corruption, division, and violence and to embrace justice, compassion, honesty, and sacrificial love. Where there is fear, Christ brings courage; where there is despair, He brings hope; where there is pain, He brings comfort.
This season invites every Nigerian, leaders and citizens alike to return to the values that make for peace and nation building.
Let us allow the love of Christ to guide our relationships with one another irrespective of our religious, ethnic and political backgrounds. Let us allow the truth of Christ to direct our national conscience and His humility to define our leadership. A nation built on righteousness, fairness, justice, and mutual respect will surely experience God’s peace and progress.
We encourage all Nigerians not to lose hope. The God who sent His Son into the world is still at work in our land. With faith in God, commitment to justice, and love for one another, Nigeria can rise again to fulfill her God given destiny.
May the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, comfort every troubled home, and usher our nation into a brighter and more hopeful tomorrow.
Merry Christmas, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Rt. Rev’d Ifeanyi Akunna
Anglican Bishop of Ogoja Diocese
Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion)