The Kano state government has declared Monday a public holiday in commemoration of the beginning of the new Islamic calendar year 1446 AH.

The current Islamic year started on July 19, 2023 and ends on July 7, 2024.

In a statement on Friday by Baba Dantiye, commissioner for information, Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano, said citizens should use the holiday to engage in beneficial activities.

“He enjoined the people of the state to utilize the holiday to reflect on the previous year and commit themselves to mutually beneficial activities that will bring succour to them in these difficult and trying times,” the statement reads.

“The state government on its part will continue to implement and initiate policies and programmes that will empower citizens to be self-dependent.”

The governor said the Muslim community should intensify prayers for continuous peace and progress in the state.

The Kebbi state government has declared a similar holiday.

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has said he is still wary of sexual immorality despite his ‘anointing’ and years in the ministry.

Adeboye said despite his age, he runs faster than before to avoid any form of sexual temptation, noting that no amount of anointing can fight such temptation.

The cleric also warned ministers of the gospel to be wary of sexual immorality and the erroneous belief that their ‘anointing’ could help them withstand any temptation.

He stated these during a sermon at the just concluded Ministers & Workers Conference of RCCG Americas 1, which consists of North, Central & Caribbean with the theme: “The Glory Ahead”.

During the sermon shared on his YouTube page on Friday, Adeboye noted that Samson, who was a judge in Israel, fell into sexual immorality despite the anointing over him.

He said, “Somebody says, at your age, why are you still running? I run faster than before because the closer you get to the finishing point, the more careful you must be.

“Some of you can say, ‘Daddy, what are you saying, are you still running?’ I run fast.

“‘With all your anointing?’ Does anointing turn your body to stone? Samson was anointed. Single-handedly, he killed a thousand soldiers. A woman finished him. I hope the boys are listening.

“You can say, ‘Is anybody still interested in an 82-year-old man?’ She is not interested in you but interested in putting an end to all the great works God has done through you.

“You see that woman smiling at you everywhere you go, she is there smiling, and she is not your wife, run.”

Adeboye also counselled youths to be careful of lust, urging them to run away from anything that looks like sin.

He added, “And you girls, when you see a boy smiling at you saying, ‘Where have you been all my life? It looks as if the sun has just come out.’

“He is calling you sunshine. By the time he finishes with you, you won’t even know the difference between sunshine and sunset. You may laugh but mark my words.

“I do warn my children, particularly the boys. I said if the devil comes against you, tell the devil to get lost, but when you see a girl smiling at you in a funny way, run because you can’t win the battle.

“Didn’t you read a report that a man committed an offence about 42 years ago, and now his ministry is finished? Anybody who tells you that whatever you do is hidden, it’s hidden until the wind begins to blow.

“The Bible says, flee youthful lust. It did not ask you to say grace would be sufficient. There is no grace for what God says you should run from. Maybe grace to run.”

President and founder of LoveWorld Incorporated better known as Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has said the fire incident at the church’s headquarters was not an accident but an avenue for bigger and better things.

The renowned pastor stated this during a live Sunday service at the church’s campground, Asese.

Intel Region reported that the headquarters of the Christ Embassy Church, located in the Oregun area of Ikeja, Lagos State, caught fire on Sunday morning.

Personnel of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service were on the scene to put out the fire.

According to worshippers, the morning service was immediately moved to Corner Stone — an annex of the church — due to the inferno.

A couple of worshippers said an electrical spark may have been responsible for the fire.

However, reacting to the incident at the live service, Pastor Chris said, “Nothing happens in the life of a child of God by accident. During the 2001 Ikeja cantonment bombing incident, the building vibrated so much and we thought it was going to collapse.

“I thought to myself that if it collapsed I was going to build a bigger, better one. At the end of the day it didn’t collapse and we called the engineers to see if there was any need to bring it down and rebuild but it was still okay.

“Now that this has happened, we will build a bigger, better, and more glorious one and the devil will lick his wound.”