Independence Anniversary: FG Declares Oct 2 Public Holiday

The Federal Government has declared Monday, October 2 as public holiday in commemoration of the nation’s 63rd independence celebration.

This was contained in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade, on Thursday in Abuja.

According to her, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated all Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora.

Tunji-Ojo assured Nigerians of government’s continued commitment to tackling challenges facing the country.

“It is today a known fact that difficult socio-economic and security challenges are global, and Nigeria is not isolated,” he said.

The minister, however, said that the government was really making efforts to confront these varied and numerous challenges with all the might available until respite comes.

Tunji-Ojo reiterated that the eminent position of Nigeria in the comity of nations and the greatness ahead of the country was achievable if “we all work together in unity”.

He stated that Nigerians’ warm welcoming spirit and love as well as the unbounded human capital and the richness of the land made Nigeria unarguably the leading black nation in the world.

This, he said, was Africa’s pride and beacon of hope for the ‘Renewed Hope’ of President Bola Tinubu.

While wishing the citizens a memorable independence celebration, the minister recalled that Nigeria’s founding fathers, in spite of the differences in faith, tribe and tongue, came together for Nigeria’s freedom which the citizens enjoy today.

The minister assured Nigerians that the present administration, through the ‘Renew Hope’ agenda, would ensure a better Nigeria for all citizens, as a befitting tribute to the nation’s heroes past.

A lecture will hold on Friday at the National Mosque Conference Centre at 10:00am, followed by Juma’at Prayer at the National Mosque at 1:00 pm

President Tinubu is also expected to address the nation on Sunday at 7:00 am

An inter-denominational church service on Sunday, 1st October, 2023 at the National Christian Centre will hold at 10:00am

There will also be a military parade on October 2 at the Presidential Villa, at 9:00am.

NAN