Nigeria Public Holidays And Observances in 2025 – All You Need To Know
Welcome to plotterwave blog, in this article, we will be walking you through all the Public Holidays that will be observed in Nigeria in 2025 and the various dates to help you better plan your 2025 activities.
Public holidays in Nigeria are officially designated days when businesses, government offices, and schools are typically closed to commemorate significant events, cultural practices, or religious observances. These holidays reflect Nigeria’s diverse ethnic, cultural, and religious makeup.
Key Types of Public Holidays
National Holidays:
- New Year’s Day (January 1): Celebrates the start of the new calendar year.
- Democracy Day (June 12): Marks the restoration of democracy in 1999.
- Independence Day (October 1): Celebrates Nigeria’s independence from British colonial rule in 1960.
Religious Holidays:
- Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha: Islamic holidays celebrated by Muslims nationwide.
- Good Friday, Easter Monday, and Christmas Day (December 25): Christian holidays commemorating the death, resurrection, and birth of Jesus Christ.
- Boxing Day (December 26): A Christian-related holiday for gift-giving.
Cultural and Seasonal Holidays:
- Workers’ Day (May 1): A day to honor workers’ contributions and labor rights.
Observances
- Dates for Islamic holidays vary each year as they follow the lunar calendar.
- Christian holidays align with the Gregorian calendar.
- Public holidays are announced by the Federal Government, and states may observe additional local celebrations.
Full Nigeria Public Holidays And Observances in 2025
| Date | Name | Type | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Wednesday | New Year’s Day | Public Holiday | |
| 14 Feb | Friday | Valentine’s Day | Observance | |
| 1 Mar | Saturday | Ramadan Start (Tentative Date) | Observance | |
| 5 Mar | Wednesday | Ash Wednesday | Observance, Christian | |
| 8 Mar | Saturday | Women’s Day | Observance | |
| 20 Mar | Thursday | March Equinox | Season | |
| 30 Mar | Sunday | Mothering Sunday | Observance | |
| 31 Mar | Monday | Eid El-Fitr (Tentative Date) | Public Holiday | |
| 1 Apr | Tuesday | Id el Fitr holiday (Tentative Date) | Public Holiday | |
| 18 Apr | Friday | Good Friday | Public Holiday | |
| 19 Apr | Saturday | Holy Saturday | Observance, Christian | |
| 20 Apr | Sunday | Easter Sunday | Observance, Christian | |
| 21 Apr | Monday | Easter Monday | Public Holiday | |
| 1 May | Thursday | Workers’ Day | Public Holiday | |
| 27 May | Tuesday | Children’s Day | Observance | |
| 7 Jun | Saturday | Id el Kabir (Tentative Date) | Public Holiday | |
| 8 Jun | Sunday | Id el Kabir additional holiday (Tentative Date) | Public Holiday | |
| 12 Jun | Thursday | Democracy Day | Public Holiday | |
| 15 Jun | Sunday | Father’s Day | Observance | |
| 21 Jun | Saturday | June Solstice | Season | |
| 27 Jun | Friday | Al-Hijra (Tentative Date) | Local Holiday | |
| 27 Jun | Friday | Al-Hijra (Tentative Date) | Observance | |
| 20 Aug | Wednesday | Isese Day | Local Holiday | Osun State |
| 5 Sep | Friday | Id el Maulud (Tentative Date) | Public Holiday | |
| 22 Sep | Monday | September Equinox | Season | |
| 1 Oct | Wednesday | National Day | Public Holiday | |
| 21 Dec | Sunday | December Solstice | Season | |
| 22 Dec | Monday | Sambisa Memorial Day | Local Holiday | Borno State |
| 24 Dec | Wednesday | Christmas Eve | Observance, Christian | |
| 25 Dec | Thursday | Christmas Day | Public Holiday | |
| 26 Dec | Friday | Boxing Day | Public Holiday | |
| 31 Dec | Wednesday | New Year’s Eve | Observance |
Public holidays in Nigeria are moments for reflection, celebration, and community bonding, underscoring the country’s unity in diversity.