The Federal Government has declared Friday, October 1, a public holiday to mark the nation’s 61st independence anniversary celebration.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Shuaib Belgore, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
The statement quoted the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, as congratulating all Nigerians on this year’s celebration of Nigeria’s 61st Independence and assured of government’s commitment to tackling and eradicating all forms of challenges confronting the country.
Nigeria gained independence from Britain on October 1, 1960.
“Aregbeola said that our warmth, welcoming spirit and love as well as the abundant wealth inherent in our human capital and the richness of our land, makes Nigeria unarguably the leading black nation in the world and Africa’s pride and beacon of hope, if we can rally ourselves together to harness our potentials.
“A country of about 200 million and above people whose natural talent, grit and passion glitter like the precious DIAMOND that we are. Nigerians are sparkling like diamonds in the pack, whether in Academia, Business, Innovation, Music, Movie, Entertainment, Fashion and culture. We are indeed the leading black nation in the entire world and no doubt Africa’s pride and beacon of hope,” the statement said.
While wishing Nigerians a fruitful independence celebration, the Minister reminded the citizens of the fact that the nation’s founding fathers, in spite of the differences in faith, tribe and tongue, worked together to fight for Nigeria’s independence.
He, 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.
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