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Thursday 16 July 2015

Eid-el-Fitr: FG declares Friday, Monday public holidays

 Federal Government has declared Friday, July 17 and Monday, July 20 as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-el-Fitr celebration. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Mr Abubakar Magaji, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government in a statement, yesterday in Abuja. The statement, signed by the ministry’s Director of Press, Mr Yusuf Isiaka, called for prayers for the nation as Muslims celebrate successful completion of the holy month of Ramadan. He urged Muslims in particular and Nigerians in general to extend the spiritual benefits of Ramadan, which include love, peace and sacrifice, to the development of the nation. He also urged Nigerians to remain steadfast and law abiding as the Federal Government worked to evolve peaceful and virile nation. “While wishing Nigerians a happy celebration, we also urge them to support the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in his determination to build a peaceful, united and virile nation,” he added. It is the norm in Islam for Muslims to look out for the new moon of Shawwal at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. He, therefore, urged Muslims to look out for the new moon to determine the actual day for Eid-el-Fitr celebration. If the new moon is sighted on Thursday, Muslims in the country will join their colleagues across the world to celebrate Eid-el-Fitr on Friday. However, if the new moon is not sighted on Thursday, Muslims will have to fast on Friday and the Eid will be celebrated on Saturday.
Dutch international midfieler Jeremain Lens is set to join up with Dick Advocaat for the third time in his career if he passes a medical at English Premier League side Sunderland on Wednesday according to the Press Association.
The 27-year-old — who played for Black Cats manager Advocaat at both AZ Alkmaar and PSV Eindhoven — will cost Sunderland around £8million (11.3m euros, $12.5m) to prise him away from Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kiev.
Lens, who played for Suriname internationally before committing himself to the Netherlands national side and was able to switch as the tournament he played in was not under the auspices of global governing body FIFA, watched Dynamo lose to the other Ukrainian powerhouse Shakhtar Donetsk in the Super Cup on Tuesday before flying to England.
However, while Advocaat, who initially announced his retirement as a club manager after saving Sunderland from relegation last season before changing his mind, looks likely to welcome Lens another international, Belgian defender Nicolas Lombaerts, may not end up at Sunderland.
The 30-year-old — who has been at Russian side Zenit St Petersburg for the past eight years including a spell under Advocaat — is believed to have failed a medical and his proposed £5million move has stalled.
Advocaat, who along with his players are presently in the United States on a pre-season tour, has stiffened up his defence with Welsh international fullback Adam Matthews, who cost £2million from Scottish champions Celtic, and Uruguayan international defender Sebastien Coates in the close season.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/07/jeremain-lens-to-join-sunderland-on-deal-of-8million/#sthash.bB6RA4pK.dpuf

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