The Federal Government has declared Friday, October 1, as a public holiday to mark the country’s 61st independence anniversary.
The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, congratulated all Nigerians on this year’s anniversary and assured of the federal government’s commitment to tackle and eradicate all forms of challenges –be it political socio-economic and all diverse problems.
The minister disclosed this in a statement by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, on Wednesday.
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,” Aregbesola said.
The minister, however, said this year’s celebration will be held without the usual pomp and pageantry because of COVID-19 protocols.
