Nigeria Independence Day: FG Declares October 1 Public Holiday

The Federal Government has declared Thursday, October 1, as a public holiday in commemoration of the Nigeria Independence Day anniversary.

AllNews reports that the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government via his official Twitter handle.

He congratulated all Nigerians on the celebration of Nigeria’s Diamond Jubilee and assured them of the Government’s unwavering commitment to the socio-economic transformation of the country.

Aregbesola said further that though, celebrating Nigeria at 60 really calls for pomp and pageantry, but with the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced all nations in the world to think and act cautiously, the country cannot avoid the imperative of a low-keyed celebration at this time.

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While wishing Nigerians a fruitful independence celebration, he reminded them of the fact that "our founding fathers, in spite of the differences in faith, tribe and tongue came together for Nigeria’s independence".

Aregbesola, therefore, called on all Nigerians to join hands together with the present Administration in its quest to ensure a better Nigeria for all citizens, both at home and abroad as this, he said, shall be a befitting tribute to the struggles of our heroes past.

Meanwhile, AllNews earlier reported that President Muhammadu Buhari has unveiled the 'Nigeria at 60' logo.

Speaking on the unveiling, the Buhari said, "I'm also made aware that the neatly encrusted diamond on the Nigerian map symbolizes our age of treasure, the worth of the Nigerian people, who are sparkle to the admiration of the world.

"In the same vein, the fair green and the dark green colours should respectively remind us of our warmth, welcoming spirit and love, as well as abundant wealth inherent in our human capital and the richness of our land.

"All these properties made us, unarguably, the most prosperous black nation in the world and Africa's largest economy. It is therefore with a deep feeling of national pride and I hereby announce to you that "Together shall we be" shall the theme of our nation's 60th-anniversary celebration.

"Our founding fathers, in spite of differences in faith, tribe and tongue, came together to fight for Nigeria's independence. This shall be a befitting tribute to the struggle of our heroes past.

"It is to the glory of God and in celebration of the attainment of the diamond age of 60 by our great nation that I hereby unveil the preferred anniversary logo for this momentous occasion in our national history."