* Otu, Sanwo-Olu, Mutfwang, Uba Sani call for unity, hope, patriotism
* Cleric warns against divisiveness
By Hosea Parah (Abuja) and Yakubu Wuyep (Jos)
Ahead of Nigeria’s 66th independence anniversary on Thursday, President Bola Tinubu is expected to end his four-week working vacation in Europe, as he returns to Nigeria tomorrow (Tuesday, September 29).
Daily NewsCraft reports that Nigeria will mark this year’s anniversary on Thursday, October 1, 2026, with the official theme: ‘From reforms to stability: Consolidating Nigeria’s Renewed Hope for shared prosperity.’
On his return, Tinubu is scheduled to mark the anniversary in Lagos State before returning to Abuja at the weekend.
It is understood that Tinubu would arrive through Lagos, where he is expected to be received at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.
The President is expected to remain in Lagos through Thursday, October 1, when he will mark the Independence anniversary, and deliver a national broadcast.
The Federal Government has already announced that the President’s Independence Day broadcast will form part of activities for the anniversary, with other events, including a public lecture scheduled for September 30.
Tinubu’s decision to spend the anniversary period in Lagos would make it the second consecutive year that he would observe Nigeria’s Independence Day in the commercial capital.
Last year, the President also marked the anniversary in Lagos amid heightened security concerns, following the emergence of allegations of a planned military coup.
The Federal Government subsequently cancelled the Independence Day parade scheduled for October 1, 2025.
The President is expected to remain in Lagos for a few days after the anniversary to attend to official engagements before returning to Abuja next weekend.
Tinubu’s return marks the end of an extended working vacation that began on August 30, when he departed Abuja for London.
The Presidency had initially announced a three-week annual leave, with London designated as his first stop.
After spending about a week in London, the President travelled to Paris, France, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré, whose business interests include Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music Group.
On September 21, the Presidency announced that Tinubu would extend his stay by a few days, saying he would return to Nigeria at the weekend. The latest itinerary, however, puts his return on Tuesday, September 29.
Despite his absence from the country, the President has continued to receive briefings and issue directives on matters of national importance.
Among the major developments during his absence was his directive for a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners held in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Minna, Niger State.
The Federal Government subsequently constituted a 10-member independent investigative committee, while several NSCDC officers were suspended pending the outcome of the inquiry. The cause and circumstances of the deaths remain subject to investigation.
During the President’s absence, Vice President Kashim Shettima represented him at several official engagements, including Nigeria’s participation at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Shettima departed Abuja on September 20 to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the UNGA, where he delivered Nigeria’s national statement on behalf of the President.
With the Vice President also out of the country, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has continued to represent the President at selected official functions, in line with the Presidency’s earlier arrangements.
The President’s return also comes against the backdrop of preparations for the 2027 general elections. The Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, has in recent weeks led party leaders on consultations with traditional and religious leaders in different parts of the country as part of the party’s mobilisation ahead of the elections.
With Tinubu expected back in Lagos on Tuesday, attention will now shift to his Independence Day address, his post-vacation engagements, and the resumption of presidential activities from Abuja next weekend.
In a related development, a service was held at the Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Lagos, on Sunday, September 27, 2026, where the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Barrister Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, said the service was more than a celebration of independence and that it was a moment of gratitude, reflection and renewed faith in the Nigerian project.
“Sixty-six years ago, Nigeria embarked on a journey of self-government with great expectations and enormous possibilities. Over the decades, we have experienced moments of triumph and moments of trials. Seasons of progress and seasons that have tested our national resolve. Yet, through it all, Nigeria has endured. And because Nigeria has endured, Nigeria shall rise again,” Sanwo-olu said.
Speaking about the theme of the service, A Nation of Hope, Healing and Revival, the governor said that it spoke powerfully to Nigeria’s national moment. He added that hope is the conviction that Nigeria’s present circumstances do not have the final word.
“As a people, we have every reason to remain hopeful. We are blessed with a youthful and energetic population, immense human capacity, abundant natural resources, creativity, enterprise and a resilience that has repeatedly enabled Nigerians to overcome difficult circumstances as we continue to build, create, innovate and serve.”
According to him, Lagos has seen what is possible when determination, innovation and collective purpose come together.
“From expanding our transport infrastructure and investing in education and healthcare, to strengthening security, supporting enterprise and building a cleaner, more sustainable city, we are steadily laying the foundations for the Lagos we aspire to leave for future generations. And we are not stopping. We will continue to build, innovate and invest in our people—because a greater Lagos and a greater Nigeria are both possible.”
He said that Nigeria will build a country it prays for through honest work, responsible citizenship, excellence, compassion and a renewed commitment to the common good. He added that Nigeria will raise a generation that understands that leadership is a responsibility, citizenship a duty, and success is best measured not only by what we acquire, but by what we contribute.
According to Sanwo-Olu, the churches and citizens have roles to play in this renewal.
“As people of faith, we must continue to pray for Nigeria—but our prayers must also produce action. Let our prayers make us better citizens in all spheres of life. On this 66th Independence Anniversary, our prayer is simple but profound: “There shall be a new Nigeria” This decree we all must make. We’ll see the Nation of our dream as we commit to prayers. A new Nigeria, new Nigeria I see
Our story is changing for good. A great nation shall be born,” said the governor.
Governor Sanwo-olu also stated that the story of Nigeria is still being written, adding that he believed that, by the grace of God, Nigeria’s brightest chapters are still ahead of it.
Let us move forward with faith, hope and courage, united in purpose and confident that, with God on our side, a greater Nigeria is within our reach.
“As we celebrate 66 years of nationhood, let us renew our faith in God and our commitment to Nigeria, and together dedicate ourselves to building the nation of our dreams. A Nigeria where every child can dream, and has the opportunity to fulfil that dream. A Nigeria where our diversity is not a source of division, but a strength; where our shared humanity unites us and our common destiny inspires us,” he said.
In Cross River State, the Governor, Sen Bassey Edet Otu, has called on Nigerians to remain committed to peace, unity, and the collective responsibility of building a nation that future generations will be proud to inherit.
The Governor made the call through the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem, at an Interdenominational thanksgiving Service held at the Christian Central Chapel, Ikot Eneobong, 8 Miles, Calabar, to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
Otu described the anniversary as an opportunity to appreciate God’s faithfulness and reflect on the sacrifices of past heroes.
”Independence is more than the remembrance of a date in our history. It is a reminder of the sacrifices of those who came before us and of the responsibility placed on our generation to build a nation that future generations will be proud to inherit,” he said.
He noted that despite the challenges Nigeria has faced since 1960, the national spirit has endured. “Nigeria has travelled a long road since 1960. Yet, through it all, the Nigerian spirit has endured. Our people remain resilient, enterprising and deeply committed to the hope of a better country,” he said.
The Governor said his administration remained conscious of the work required to improve lives through opportunities for youths, stronger education and healthcare, support for enterprise, improved infrastructure, and increased investment. Reaffirming his People First agenda, he stated: “We will continue to work deliberately towards a state where our people can live in peace, work with dignity and look to the future with confidence. But the government cannot do this alone.”
He called for collective effort from the Church, traditional institutions, the private sector, civil society, young people, and citizens at large to advance the development of Cross River State and Nigeria.
Otu further called for prayers for wisdom for leaders, peace in communities, protection for security personnel, and comfort for struggling families. “As we pray for Nigeria today, let us pray for wisdom for our leaders at every level. Let us also pray for greater unity in our country,” he said.
On the subject of diversity, the Governor urged Nigerians to embrace their differences as a source of strength rather than division. “Our diversity should not divide us. We may come from different ethnic groups, speak different languages and practise different faiths, but we share one country and one collective destiny,” he said, calling on citizens to reject violence, uphold the rule of law, and remain hopeful and committed to nation-building.
In his sermon, titled ‘Using your past testimonies to unlock your new miracle,’ the President of Christian Central Chapel International Faith Mansion World Centre, Archbishop Emma Gospel Isong, drew on Exodus 15:22–27 to recount the Israelites’ experience at Marah following their crossing of the Red Sea.
Isong noted that although the Israelites encountered bitter water in the wilderness, God provided a solution through Moses, transforming the water into a source of sustenance, an account, he said, that demonstrates how past testimonies can strengthen faith in difficult moments.
The Archbishop encouraged Nigerians to remember God’s faithfulness, remain hopeful, and continue praying for wisdom for leaders, peace across communities, protection for security personnel, and greater opportunities for young people. Cautioning against divisive rhetoric that castigates and criminalises leaders, he urged citizens instead to engage government through constructive, solution-oriented criticism, and to remain united, reject hatred and violence, and speak positively about Cross River State and Nigeria at all times.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the service, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Pastor Hon Ekpenyong Ene Cobham, who read the second Bible lesson, from Hebrews 11:23–29, urged Nigerians to remain hopeful and focused, cautioning against comparing individual progress with that of others without regard for differing circumstances. “We see some of our peers that started with us that are ahead of us. We fail to understand that it could have been worse. Every child has his own time, and we are moving at our own pace and time within the confines of God’s covenant with us,” he said.
Cobham said Nigeria had sufficient reason to celebrate its progress despite prevailing difficulties, expressing confidence in the country’s economic recovery. “The prospects are enormous, and we have cause to thank God, in spite of all the challenges we might have,” he said, adding that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had brought renewed hope and placed the country on a path of economic revitalisation. “All the indicators, economically, show that Nigeria is on the path of revitalisation and recovery,” he said.
On developments in Cross River State, the Commissioner said the Otu administration had brought significant change, with increased economic activity and growing confidence in the state’s future, citing rising air travel through Calabar as one indicator of expanding movement and economic activity. He urged Cross Riverians to remain focused and confident in the direction of the State.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on General Duties, Barrister Ekpenyong Akiba, said the Independence anniversary offered an opportunity to give thanks to God for sustaining Nigeria’s unity despite its diversity. “For me, it is all glory to God because, despite our diversity in religion, politics, culture and tradition, and our multiplicity of languages, Nigeria has remained united since independence,” he said. He urged Nigerians to continue praying, remain hopeful, promote national unity, and support their leaders in advancing the country’s development, acknowledging the nation’s challenges while maintaining that sustained progress remained achievable through unity and peace.
The Chief Judge of the State, Justice Akon Ikpeme, read the first Bible lesson, from Exodus 15:22–25. The service was attended by leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), senior government officials, traditional rulers, and service commanders, and featured a unity dance-drama presentation by youths in praise of Cross River State, Nigeria, and its citizenry.
The Plateau State Government, in collaboration with Christian leaders, have called for a renewed commitment to responsible citizenship, righteous living by promoting peaceful coexistence as pathways to addressing the country’s challenges.
The call was made at an interdenominational church service held at Nasarawa Baptist Church, Jos, to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th independence anniversary, with the theme, ‘Nigeria 66 years after.’ The service brought together government officials, clergies, and other stakeholders for prayers and reflection on the country’s journey.
Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, who was represented by his Deputy, Mrs Ngo Josephine Chundung Piyo, said the anniversary offered Nigerians an opportunity to reflect on the challenges confronting the country and the responsibility of citizens to contribute to its development.
Mutfwang said Nigeria had experienced economic difficulties, insecurity, political disagreements and social tensions, but had continued to demonstrate resilience through the contributions of young people, farmers, entrepreneurs, professionals and security personnel.
He urged the Church to remain actively involved in addressing social challenges, stressing that religious teachings should promote integrity, justice, compassion and responsible citizenship.
“The Church cannot stand apart from the challenges of society; it must continue to be a voice for truth, justice, compassion, reconciliation and responsible citizenship. Our pulpits must produce citizens who understand that leadership is service; that public resources are sacred; that human life is valuable.”
The governor also called for dialogue, forgiveness and justice, saying his administration remained committed to building a Plateau anchored on peace, security and good governance, infrastructure development and sustainable economic rebirth.
President of the Plateau Baptist Conference, Rev Dr K. K. Saleh, drawing from Psalm 125, challenged Nigerians to examine their relationship with God rather than placing the entire burden of the country’s challenges on government and security agencies.
Saleh said the Church, government and citizens had responsibilities in creating a safer society, urging leaders to govern with justice and citizens to embrace honesty and integrity.
“Vulnerability is not the absence of security presence. Vulnerability is the absence of God’s presence.”
The cleric urged Nigerians to combine prayer with responsible action, stressing that the transformation of society required individuals and institutions to take responsibility for their conduct.
Commissioner for Information and Communication, Rt Hon Joyce Lohya Ramnap, said the service was an opportunity to thank God and pray for Nigeria and its leadership, particularly against the backdrop of the security challenges experienced in the state.
Ramnap said the people of Plateau had demonstrated resilience over the years, adding that the low-key Independence activities, which included prayers at the mosque and church, were intended to encourage citizens to draw strength from their faith and continue working towards a peaceful society.
The Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has urged Nigerians to remain patriotic and hopeful while working collectively towards building a better country as Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary.
The governor made the call in a message delivered by the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Comrade Yunana Markus Barde, at an interdenominational service held at Living Faith Church, Barnawa, Kaduna, to commemorate the anniversary.
Sani said his administration remained committed to promoting unity and improving the welfare of residents through interventions in security, healthcare, road infrastructure, agriculture and support for vulnerable citizens.
He said Nigeria, 66 years after gaining independence in 1960, had experienced both successes and challenges but must continue to strive for a better future.
“I believe in Nigeria too. This is our home, this is our nation. If we don’t do what is necessary to make the nation better, foreigners will not come and put our nation in order,” the governor said.
He urged Nigerians to remain patriotic and hopeful, saying the sacrifices being made today would benefit future generations.
“As we enter the 66th year of Nigeria’s independence, I urge us all to continue being patriotic and be hopeful to build a Nigeria for the upcoming generation to call a country.
“As the saying goes, Rome was not built in a day. With God, all things are possible. Our labour over Nigeria will never be in vain,” he said.
Also speaking, the State and Resident Pastor of Living Faith Church, Barnawa, Pastor Yakubu Kezi, said Nigeria was destined for greatness, stressing that the country’s development depended on the commitment of its citizens.
He said developed countries, including the United States, achieved their present status because their citizens invested in building their nations.
“Nobody shall develop our country from the outside. We are the ones who will develop this country ourselves. There is nothing we are looking for anywhere in the globe that is not available in this country.
“God has blessed Nigeria with human capital, natural resources, and great leaders. All we require now is the will to turn them into assets,” he said.
Kezi urged Nigerians to cultivate the values required for nation-building, expressing optimism that the country would eventually emerge as an economic giant.
He also commended the Kaduna State Government for what he described as visible infrastructure development, particularly road construction and dualisation projects in Barnawa and other parts of the state.
The pastor recalled that he returned to Kaduna in 2024 after leaving the state in 2010 and said he was impressed by some of the changes he observed.
“I began to see roads tarred and dualized. What I have seen within this short time is commendable. Please put your hands together for this present administration,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Religious Matters, Rev Dr Ishaya Adamu Jangado, said the interdenominational service was part of Kaduna State’s tradition of bringing people of different faiths together to pray for peace and progress.
Jangado said the Uba Sani administration had continued to promote inclusion, unity and democratic values irrespective of religion, ethnicity or background.
He stressed the importance of prayers to the stability and development of the state and urged religious leaders and citizens to continue to promote peaceful coexistence and good governance.
Jangado also urged eligible citizens to participate actively in the electoral process and exercise their civic responsibility ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The service formed part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary in Kaduna, with prayers offered for peace, unity, stability and sustainable development.
The state government had earlier organised special prayers at Sultan Bello Mosque, where Muslim clerics also prayed for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani.