The naira strengthened marginally against the dollar in the parallel foreign exchange market on Tuesday, Christmas Eve.

A Bureau de Change operator in Wuse Zone 4, Abubakar Alhasan, told Newsmen that the naira appreciated by N3, trading at N1,637 per dollar on Monday, compared to N1,640 previously.

Meanwhile, the naira weakened slightly in the official market, closing at N1,540.45 per dollar on Tuesday, down from N1,539.55 the day before. This development comes as Nigerians prepare for the 2024 Christmas celebrations on Wednesday, December 25.

It is worth noting that Nigeria based its proposed N49.7 trillion 2024 budget on an exchange rate of N1,500 per dollar.

Dailypost

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has urged Nigerians to use the Christmas season as an opportunity to promote peace, love, and unity.

Akpabio, in a Christmas message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, on Tuesday, stated that the festive period calls for both celebration and reflection.

He said, “In the spirit of the season, I encourage you all to spread love, kindness, and generosity. Let us remember those in need and offer a helping hand as much as possible.

“As we gather with family and friends, let us also remember the true essence of Christmas: peace, love, and unity. May these values guide us as we strive to build a better Nigeria for all.”

The Senate President noted that Jesus Christ embodied peace, love, and generosity, and that his birthday should be a time of joy and celebration.

He added, “This special time of the year is a moment for reflection, gratitude, and celebration.

“On behalf of my family, constituents, the Senate, and indeed the National Assembly, I extend my warmest wishes to all Nigerians and their loved ones. I wish you all a joyous and merry Christmas, with God’s abundant blessings.”

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has lambasted the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for allegedly politicizing the recent deaths recorded during stampedes at palliatives distribution sites across the country.

Spokesman for APC, Felix Morka, in a statement described PDP’s stance as callous.

Morka said at a time of national grief over stampedes in Oyo, Anambra and the Federal Capital Territory that resulted in the death of citizens, the PDP seized the moment to engage in callous political chicanery.

The spokesman also stated that Nigerians have not forgotten the ill-fated 2014 recruitment exercise into the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS which led to the death of some desperate job seekers.

He said instead of genuinely commiserate with the victims and their families, the PDP chose to politicize the grief of the victims by blaming the stampedes on the All Progressives Congress APC-led administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He stressed that the tragedies have united well-meaning Nigerians from all walks of life in sober reflection.

“The tragedies have brought together all well-meaning Nigerians in mourning and sober reflection on how the incidents might have been avoided through better planning and organization by all involved. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victims and their families.

“It is grossly indecent, insensitive and despicable for the PDP to exploit these tragic incidents in a senseless attack against the administration that has devoted itself to fixing the ruins of nearly two decades of PDP administration.

“Nigerians have not forgotten the tragic stampede at the ill-fated Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment exercise in 2014 at the Abuja stadium, under the watch of the PDP administration, that left many desperate job seekers dead and scores injured. The PDP’s allegations only remind us of its sordid record of maladministration and utter incompetence,’” Morka added.

DAILY POST reports that stampedes occurred in Abuja, Anambra and Ibadan during distribution of food items, where several lives were lost.