President Bola Tinubu will address Nigerians on October 1 as the Federal Government plans a low-key celebration to mark the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
The Federal Government has inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Committee to coordinate activities for the 2026 Independence Day celebration, with the programme expected to culminate in a nationwide broadcast by the President.
The Head of the Information and Public Relations Department in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chris Ugwuegbulam, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday.
The committee’s inaugural meeting was held on Thursday and was chaired by 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 provide an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the contributions and sacrifices of the nation’s founding fathers and heroines who fought for independence from colonial rule.
He said the achievements recorded by Nigeria since independence were built on the foundation laid by the country’s nationalists.
According to him, the celebration would also provide an avenue for the administration to showcase its achievements and highlight ongoing reforms aimed at repositioning the country amid prevailing socio-economic challenges.
However, the SGF stressed that this year’s activities would be conducted on a low-key basis.
He also urged members of the committee to work with urgency because of the limited time remaining before October 1.
The programme will begin with a World Press Conference on September 24, followed by a Juma’at Service on September 25 and a Church Service on September 27.
An Independence Day Public Lecture is scheduled for September 30, while the activities will climax with President Tinubu’s nationwide broadcast on October 1.
The committee comprises senior government officials, including the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Also on the committee are the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman; Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga; Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare; and other senior government officials and security chiefs.
The committee is mandated to plan, organise and execute approved activities for the October 1 celebration.
It is also authorised to co-opt relevant individuals or organisations, document the activities for posterity and undertake other assignments necessary for the successful implementation of the anniversary programme.
