CAN President Daniel Okoh has urged the Federal Government to move from promises to visible action, citing hardship, insecurity and Nigerians’ need for better governance.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged Nigerians to make mercy, compassion, justice and peaceful coexistence central to their lives as Muslims across the country celebrate Eid-el-Maulud, while calling on the Federal Government to move from promises to visible action.

CAN President Archbishop Daniel Okoh made the call in an Eid-el-Maulud message on Tuesday, congratulating Muslims nationwide and praying for peace and blessings upon their families and communities.

Okoh said the celebration of the birth of the Prophet of Islam offered an opportunity for Muslims and Nigerians generally to reflect on values associated with the Prophet’s life, including mercy, justice, compassion for the poor and vulnerable, honesty and peaceful coexistence.

“For us as Nigerians, these values are especially important today because they challenge us to care for one another, protect human dignity and pursue peace even when our differences are exploited for political or personal gain,” he said.

“Nigerians Are Tired of Promises”

The CAN president noted that the celebration came at a difficult time for many Nigerians, with rising living costs and insecurity continuing to affect households and communities across the country. “People are tired of promises; they want to see their lives improve,” he said.

Okoh urged the Federal Government and leaders at all levels to move from promises to visible action, stressing that Nigerians needed greater security, economic relief and leadership that prioritised their welfare.

“Leadership is not measured by what we promise, but by what Nigerians can see and feel,” he said.

CAN Warning Ahead of 2027

Okoh also urged politicians, ahead of the 2027 general elections, not to exploit religious or ethnic differences for political advantage, arguing that elections would come and go but the bonds holding Nigeria together must remain. He called on Christians and Muslims to resist attempts by politicians and other interests to divide them for political gain, stressing that both groups shared a responsibility to protect their communities, care for vulnerable Nigerians and work together for peace.

He said he remained hopeful about Nigeria, but that such hope had to be supported by “responsible leadership, good citizenship and justice.”

“May this Eid-el-Maulud renew our commitment to mercy, peace and compassion, and inspire us to build a Nigeria where every citizen can live with dignity and hope,” he added, wishing Muslims across the country an “Eid-el-Maulud Mubarak.”

A Recurring Message

Okoh, who has led CAN since July 2022 and also serves as General Overseer of Christ Holy Church International, has used previous Eid-el-Maulud messages in recent years to make similar appeals to the government.

In his 2025 message, he described Nigeria as standing “at a critical crossroads” marked by economic hardship and governance challenges, and urged political leaders to “embrace justice in their decisions” and “ease the burdens of hardship on citizens”, language echoed again in this year’s message, suggesting the concerns CAN is raising about governance and living costs have persisted, largely unresolved, over the past year.