October 1: Tinubu to Address Nigerians as FG Shelves Grand Independence Bash
October 1: Tinubu to Address Nigerians as FG Shelves Grand Independence Bash
President Bola Tinubu will address Nigerians in a nationwide broadcast on October 1 as the Federal Government scales down activities for the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
The celebration, which kicks off on September 24, will feature a World Press Conference, religious services and a public lecture before the President’s address on October 1, according to the programme released by the Inter-Ministerial Committee set up to coordinate the anniversary.
The Head of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chris Ugwuegbulam, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.
The committee held its inaugural meeting on Thursday under the chairmanship of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Office, Mrs Bekearedebo Augusta Warrens.
Akume said the anniversary would enable Nigerians to reflect on the sacrifices and legacies of the nation’s founding fathers and heroines who fought for independence from colonial rule.
He said the country’s achievements since 1960 were built on the foundation laid by the nationalists who championed the struggle for self-rule.
The SGF said the anniversary would also be used to highlight the achievements of the Tinubu administration and its reform efforts to reposition the economy amid prevailing socio-economic challenges.
However, he directed the committee to work with urgency, stressing that the 2026 celebration would be low-key because of the limited time available before October 1.
The programme begins on Thursday, September 24, with a World Press Conference.
A Juma’at Service will follow on Friday, September 25, while a Church Service is scheduled for Sunday, September 27.
An Independence Day Public Lecture will hold on Wednesday, September 30, ahead of Tinubu’s nationwide broadcast on Thursday, October 1.
The committee comprises key ministers and senior government officials, including the Ministers of Finance, Information, Interior, Foreign Affairs, FCT, and Budget and Economic Planning.
The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu; Director General of the Department of State Services, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi; and other senior officials are also members.
The committee is mandated to plan, organise and execute approved activities for the anniversary, as well as co-opt relevant individuals or organisations where necessary.
It is also expected to document the activities for posterity and undertake any other assignment required for the successful implementation of the Independence Day programme.
