Pope Francis during his Easter sermon today urged Catholics to keep hope alive described the covid-19 vaccine as an “essential tool” in ending the pandemic urging the authorities to consider the poor countries. Being the holiest holiday for the 1.3billion Catholics from across the globe as the coronavirus threatened the world, the pope dwells his massage on the vulnerable, the sick, the migrant, people with economic hardship, and those ravaged by war like Syria, Yemen, and Libya. Pope said, “The pandemic is still spreading, while the social and economic crisis remains severe, especially for the poor,” the 84-year-old Argentine said, speaking to a congregation of only around 100 people inside the vast St. Peter’s Basilica.

The All Progressive Congress (APC) has charged Nigerians during this Easter sober celebration to pray for divine intervention and guidance for Nigerian leaders. Governor Mai Mala Buni, of Yobe state who is also the chairman of the Extraordinary Convention Planning committee (CECPC) solicited the prayer on behalf of the ruling party in Abuja yesterday. The statement was made known by the Buni’s Director General of Media and Press, Alhaji Mamman Mohammed who also said Buni solicited for Nigerians to demonstrate love, Unity, and Harmony as well as tolerance towards one another.

The Federal Government has declared Friday, April 2, 2021, and Monday 5th as public holidays, to mark the Easter celebrations this year. The above announcement made by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, was contained in a statement signed by the Director (Press & Public Relations) of the Ministry of Interior, Mohammed Manga, and issued on March 30, 2021. In the statement, Aregbesola encouraged Christians to emulate the attributes of forbearance, forgiveness, kindness, humility, love, peace, and patience, which were demonstrated by Jesus Christ.

The first batch of stranded Nigerians that cried out in a viral video to be evacuated from Saudi Arabia have now arrived the country. The returnees arrived aboard Saudi Arabia Airlines at about 1 pm at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission announced the return of the 384 Nigerians today. The returnees are part of the 802 stranded in Saudi that the Nigerian government had promised would be evacuated to Nigeria on Thursday and Friday. Announcing the return of the first batch, NIDCOM said out of the 384 returnees, 300 are males while 83 are females with one infant whose gender the Commission declined to reveal.