The Valentine’s Day celebrations in Nigeria during February 14, 2025, were marked by anger, controversy, and public health concerns. Here’s a synthesis of the key events and issues:
Economic Frustrations and Anger
• Many Nigerians, particularly working-class wives in Abuja, voiced their frustration over the cash crunch that disrupted their Valentine’s Day plans. The inability to withdraw cash from ATMs or utilise digital payment systems resulted in cancelled outings and unmet expectations. For instance, Chelsea Ndubaku, a public servant, expressed her disappointment when her husband couldn’t pay for their usual Valentine’s treat due to network issues with Point-of-Sale machines. She described sleeping “with anger” after the failed attempt.
• Peace Agede, another Abuja resident, lamented that her birthday, which coincided with Valentine’s Day, was also ruined due to the cash scarcity. Her husband couldn’t access funds to purchase gifts, leaving her feeling neglected. https://www.pulse.ng/articles/news/local/abuja-wives-unhappy-naira-scarcity-ruined-valentines-day-2024072607305535301
Calls for Banning Valentine’s Day
• Bishop Charles Ighele, a prominent cleric, called for a ban on Valentine’s Day celebrations in Nigeria, labelling it a “universal day of immorality.” He argued that the day has deviated from its original purpose of promoting charity and humanitarian work, instead encouraging illicit sexual conduct and moral decay. He linked the celebration to Cupid, the Roman god of love, whom he described as a “romantic demon” promoting sexual desires and immorality.
• Ighele’s call for a ban was supported by his assertion that the day fosters reckless behaviour among the youth, urging the government, religious institutions, and families to collaborate in promoting moral values. https://www.withinnigeria.com/entertainment/2025/02/13/why-valentine-day-should-be-banned-in-nigeria-bishop-charles-ighele/
Read also: A brief history of Valentine’s Day and its economic impact today
Public Health Concerns
• The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) an’d,olpublic health experts raised alarms about the risks of unsafe sex during Valentine’s Day. They warned that the day often leads to impulsive sexual behaviour, increasing the likelihood of unwanted pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV11.
• Dr. Michael Olanrewaju, a public health expert, highlighted the dangers of unprotected sex, noting that impulsive actions under the influence of alcohol or drugs could result in STIs, unplanned pregnancies, and psychological distress. https://www.icirnigeria.org/valentines-day-avoid-unsafe-sex-naca-health-expert-warn-nigerians/
Cultural and Religious Debates
• Valentine’s Day sparked cultural and religious debates in Nigeria, with some viewing it as a celebration of love and others condemning it as a promoter of immorality. The day’s association with romantic relationships and commercialisation were points of contention, particularly in Northern Nigeria, where radio stations struggled to balance cultural sensitivities with modern trends. https://dailytrust.com/nigeria-daily-valentines-day-the-controversies-the-debatesl;\op’/o;n ll/
Economic Impact and Consumer Behaviour
• Despite economic challenges, many Nigerians were still eager to spend on Valentine’s Day. A report by SBM Intelligence revealed that 85.6% of respondents intended to celebrate the occasion, with some setting aside as much as N500,000 for gifts and outings. This indicates a strong cultural attachment to the day, even in financial difficulties.
Peter Obi urges reopening adjacent markets not involved in drug trade in Onitsha; Reno Omokri retorts that Obi did not speak when IPOB shut the market.
Mr Peter Obi, who ran as the Labour Party presidential candidate in 2023, has called on NAFDAC to review the wholesale closure of the Onitsha Head Bridge market and focus only on the section selling medications. He has also pleaded for the reopening of other sections not involved in drug sales.
Obi’s regular critic Reno Omokri immediately accused him of hypocrisy for allegedly not complaining when the separatist movement caused a closure of the same Onitsha market.
Obi said: “The entire Head Bridge Market in Onitsha has been closed by regulatory and security agencies due to suspected trading in illegal drugs within one section of the market known as Ogbo Ogwu.
“While one unequivocally condemns such illicit drug trading activities and urges the government to take all necessary measures to eradicate the sale of fake items—especially drugs—and legally prosecute the perpetrators for the health and safety of society, my concern and appeal are for the immediate reopening of neighbouring markets that were also collaterally affected by the closure.
“Shutting down other neighbouring markets not involved besides the Ogbo Ogwu Market such as Rod, Allied and Tools, Plumbing Materials, Timber, Surgical, and Provision Markets seems excessive and unjustified.
“I therefore appeal for their immediate reopening, as their continued closure severely affects the livelihoods of millions, especially during this challenging period in our country.
“Furthermore, the search should be conducted transparently, with store owners present while their shops are inspected and items removed by the law and due process.
“If the goal is to conduct a legitimate search, why extend the closure to other markets? What are their offences?
Reno Omokri on Facebook: IPOB Closed Onitsha Market For 53 Days, and Peter Obi Said Nothing. NAFDAC Closed It For a Week, And Obi Is Dancing Naked in Public.
Soludo’s challenge to arrested native doctors: disappear from police cells and be free forever
Anambra State Governor Prof. Charles Chukwumah Soludo raised the stakes this week in his confrontation with native doctors and ritualists. He offered to cease the prosecution of anyone who can magically walk away from their detention centres, as they often claim such acts.
His challenge came as traditional-medicine practitioners and sympathetic citizens accused the Anambra State Government of prejudice and persecution.
The ANSG accused the medicine men of complicity in the rise of criminality in the state and declared war on them. The official vigilante outfit Agunechemba arrested well-known medicine men, such as Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki n’Oba.
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