NEWS
Bola Tinubu’s 63rd Independence Day Anniversary Address [Full Speech]
Dear Compatriots,
1.It is my unique honour to address you on this day, the 63rd anniversary of our nation’s independence, both as the President of our dear country and, simply, as a fellow Nigerian.
2. On this solemn yet hopeful day, let us commend our founding fathers and mothers. Without them, there would be no modern Nigeria. From the fading embers of colonialism, their activism, dedication and leadership gave life to the belief in Nigeria as a sovereign and independent nation.
3. Let us, at this very moment, affirm that as Nigerians, we are all endowed with the sacred rights and individual gifts that God has bestowed on us as a nation and as human beings. No one is greater or lesser than the other.
The triumphs that Nigeria has achieved shall define us. The travails we have endured shall strengthen us. And no other nation or power on this earth shall keep us from our rightful place and destiny. This nation belongs to you, dear people. Love and cherish it as your very own.
4. Nigeria is remarkable in its formation and essential character. We are a broad and dynamic blend of ethnic groups, religions, traditions and cultures. Yet, our bonds are intangible yet strong, invisible yet universal. We are joined by a common thirst for peace and progress, by the common dream of prosperity and harmony and by the unifying ideals of tolerance and justice.
5. Forging a nation based on the fair application of these noble principles to a diverse population has been a task of significant blessing but also a serial challenge. Some people have said an independent Nigeria should never have come into existence. Some have said that our country would be torn apart. They are forever mistaken. Here, our nation stands and here we shall remain.
6. This year, we passed a significant milestone in our journey to a better Nigeria. By democratically electing a 7th consecutive civilian government, Nigeria has proven that commitment to democracy and the rule of law remains our guiding light.
7. At my inauguration, I made important promises about how I would govern this great nation. Among those promises, were pledges to reshape and modernize our economy and to secure the lives, liberty and property of the people.
8. I said that bold reforms were necessary to place our nation on the path of prosperity and growth. On that occasion, I announced the end of the fuel subsidy.
9. I am attuned to the hardships that have come. I have a heart that feels and eyes that see. I wish to explain to you why we must endure this trying moment. Those who sought to perpetuate the fuel subsidy and broken foreign exchange policies are people who would build their family mansion in the middle of a swamp. I am different. I am not a man to erect our national home on a foundation of mud. To endure, our home must be constructed on safe and pleasant ground.
10. Reform may be painful, but it is what greatness and the future require. We now carry the costs of reaching a future Nigeria where the abundance and fruits of the nation are fairly shared among all, not hoarded by a select and greedy few. A Nigeria where hunger, poverty and hardship are pushed into the shadows of an ever fading past.
11. There is no joy in seeing the people of this nation shoulder burdens that should have been shed years ago. I wish today’s difficulties did not exist. But we must endure if we are to reach the good side of our future.
12. My government is doing all that it can to ease the load. I will now outline the path we are taking to relieve the stress on our families and households.
13. We have embarked on several public sector reforms to stabilize the economy, direct fiscal and monetary policy to fight inflation, encourage production, ensure the security of lives and property and lend more support to the poor and the vulnerable.
14. Based on our talks with labour, business and other stakeholders, we are introducing a provisional wage increment to enhance the federal minimum wage without causing undue inflation. For the next six months, the average low-grade worker shall receive an additional Twenty-Five Thousand naira per month.
15. To ensure better grassroots development, we set up an Infrastructure Support Fund for states to invest in critical areas. States have already received funds to provide relief packages against the impact of rising food and other prices.
16. Making the economy more robust by lowering transport costs will be key. In this regard, we have opened a new chapter in public transportation through the deployment of cheaper, safer Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses across the nation. These buses will operate at a fraction of current fuel prices, positively affecting transport fares.
17. New CNG conversions kits will start coming in very soon as all hands are on deck to fast track the usually lengthy procurement process. We are also setting up training facilities and workshops across the nation to train and provide new opportunities for transport operators and entrepreneurs.
This is a groundbreaking moment where, as a nation, we embrace more efficient means to power our economy. In making this change, we also make history.
18. I pledged a thorough housecleaning of the den of malfeasance the CBN had become. That housecleaning is well underway. A new leadership for the Central Bank has been constituted. Also, my special investigator will soon present his findings on past lapses and how to prevent similar reoccurrences. Henceforth, monetary policy shall be for the benefit of all and not the exclusive province of the powerful and wealthy.
19. Wise tax policy is essential to economic fairness and development. I have inaugurated a Committee on Tax Reforms to improve the efficiency of tax administration in the country and address fiscal policies that are unfair or hinder the business environment and slow our growth.
20. To boost employment and urban incomes, we are providing investment funding for enterprises with great potential. Similarly, we are increasing investment in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
21. Commencing this month, the social safety net is being extended through the expansion of cash transfer programs to an additional 15 million vulnerable households.
22. My administration shall always accord the highest priority to the safety of the people. Inter-Service collaboration and intelligence sharing have been enhanced. Our Service Chiefs have been tasked with the vital responsibility of rebuilding the capacities of our security services.
23. Here, I salute and commend our gallant security forces for keeping us safe and securing our territorial integrity. Many have paid the ultimate sacrifice. We remember them today and their families. We shall equip our forces with the ways and means needed to perform their urgent task on behalf of the people,
24. We shall continue to make key appointments in line with the provisions of the Constitution and with fairness toward all. Women, Youth and the physically challenged shall continue to be given due regard in these appointments.
25. May I take this opportunity to congratulate the National Assembly for its role in the quick take-off of this administration through the performance of its constitutional duties of confirmation and oversight.
26. I similarly congratulate the judiciary as a pillar of democracy and fairness.
27. I also thank members of our dynamic civil society organizations and labour unions for their dedication to Nigerian democracy. We may not always agree but I value your advice and recommendations. You are my brothers and sisters and you have my due respect.
28. Fellow compatriots, the journey ahead will not be navigated by fear or hatred. We can only achieve our better Nigeria through courage, compassion and commitment as one indivisible unit.
29. I promise that I shall remain committed and serve faithfully. I also invite all to join this enterprise to remake our beloved nation into its better self. We can do it. We must do it. We shall do it.!!!
30. I wish you all a happy 63rd Independence Anniversary.
31. Thank you for listening.
32. May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
A major tragedy struck the Oko community in Anambra State after a three-storey students’ hostel collapsed late Sunday night, leaving an unknown number of people feared dead and several others trapped beneath the wreckage.
The affected building, identified as Elite Five Star Lodge, is located near Tonimas Filling Station in the Amokpala area behind the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area.
The cause of the collapse has not yet been established, while emergency rescue efforts continued on Monday as authorities searched for more victims.
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Personnel from the Anambra State Police Command, the Anambra State Fire Service, the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), alongside volunteers and other security agencies, have been working tirelessly to remove debris and rescue occupants believed to be trapped.
Several victims have been rescued alive and transported to a hospital in Oko for treatment. Bodies recovered from the scene have been taken to a mortuary, although officials say the exact number of deaths and injuries is yet to be confirmed.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said police officers responded immediately after receiving a distress call regarding the collapse.
He explained that a joint security team quickly secured the area to prevent further danger while coordinating rescue operations with relevant emergency agencies.
According to the police spokesperson, rescue operations remain ongoing, making it impossible at this stage to determine the total number of casualties or those affected.
He also confirmed that rescued victims are receiving medical care at a hospital in Oko.
The police have appealed to members of the public to remain calm, avoid circulating unverified information, and keep away from the scene to allow rescue workers unrestricted access.
Authorities are expected to release more details as rescue operations continue and investigations into the cause of the building collapse commence.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Dr. Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart as the new Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), reinforcing his administration’s legislative engagement strategy.
The appointment, which takes immediate effect, follows the resignation of Hon. Ibrahim Olanrewaju, who stepped down from the position to pursue an elective office in his home state.
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The announcement was made in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the Presidency, Dr. Olanrewaju-Smart brings a wealth of experience in public policy, governance and legislative affairs to the role.
President Tinubu expressed confidence that the new adviser would strengthen collaboration between the Presidency, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and the House of Representatives.
Olanrewaju-Smart holds a PhD in Educational Management from Lead City University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University.
He is also an Edward Mason Fellow in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School.
The 40-year-old policy expert was also a LEAPS Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
In addition, he earned a Professional Diploma in Public Relations from the London School of Public Relations and served as a Policy Fellow at Quantum Alliance AI, USA, where he focused on artificial intelligence and civic technology.
His career in the National Assembly spans several strategic positions.
He served as Research and Media Assistant to the Minority and Majority Leaders of the House of Representatives during the 7th and 8th Assemblies before rising to become Special Adviser, Deputy Chief of Staff, and later Chief of Staff to the Speaker during the 9th and 10th Assemblies.
In October 2023, Olanrewaju-Smart joined the Presidency as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Intergovernmental Affairs, a position he held until his latest appointment.
His public policy portfolio includes contributions to several landmark legislations, including the Interest-Free Student Loan Act, among other reforms.
The Presidency stated that the appointment takes immediate effect, adding that President Tinubu is confident Olanrewaju-Smart will deploy his experience, intellect and commitment to strengthen legislative coordination and relations between the Presidency, MDAs and the House of Representatives.
Suspected bandits have abducted a serving High Court judge, Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza, during a midnight attack on his residence in Bunza Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday along Zogirma Road, where the gunmen reportedly stormed the judge’s home shortly after he returned from Sokoto State.
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Sources familiar with the incident said the attackers fired several gunshots into the air to create panic before whisking the judge away.
No member of his household was injured during the operation.
Confirming the abduction, the spokesperson for the Kebbi State Police Command, SP Bashir Usman, said the judge was taken from his residence around midnight.
“I can confirm that Hon. Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza was abducted from his residence in Bunza around midnight,” the police spokesman said.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Muhammad Hadejia, immediately ordered the deployment of tactical and intelligence teams to begin an intensive search for the abducted judge.
“As we speak, our personnel are combing identified locations, including forest areas, to ensure that the judge is rescued alive and unharmed,” Usman added.
A senior official of the Kebbi State High Court, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, described the incident as a tragic development for the judiciary.
“Though I’m not authorized to speak formally to the press, this is a painful moment for us. To hear that one of our judges was abducted at his residence is very disturbing,” the official said.
The official also disclosed that the management of the Kebbi State High Court has already met with heads of security agencies in the state to coordinate efforts aimed at securing the judge’s immediate release.
The kidnapping has heightened concerns over the security situation in parts of northern Nigeria, where attacks by armed groups and kidnappings for ransom continue to pose significant challenges despite ongoing security operations.
Authorities have assured the public that efforts are ongoing to rescue Justice Bunza safely and bring those responsible for the abduction to justice.
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