Soludo Calls for Unity and Hope as Nigeria Marks 66th Independence Anniversary
Nigeria's 66th Independence Day anniversary was marked in Awka on Thursday with a call from Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo for citizens to remain united and hopeful despite the country's religious, tribal and ethnic divisions.
Speaking at the Alex Ekwueme Square, Soludo asked Nigerians to recognise the sacrifices and enduring spirit of the nation's founding fathers and to keep faith in the country's future.
He delivered the presidential message, which reflected on how far Nigeria has come since October 1, 1960, and praised the resilience of Nigerians in holding the country together.
The governor defended the difficult economic reforms introduced by the current administration, describing them as essential measures to rescue the nation from long-standing fiscal distortions.
He said the hard decisions taken over the past three and a half years had succeeded in stopping economic decline, restoring stability and driving growth above four per cent in 2026.
According to him, Nigeria has now reached a turning point, with the focus shifting away from emergency economic stabilisation and structural reform toward delivering shared and widespread prosperity.
Soludo listed priority areas to include cutting the cost of living by lowering production and transportation costs, increasing agricultural output through mechanised farming and dry-season irrigation, and expanding key infrastructure such as roads, railways and ports to link farms with markets across the country.
He also promised that his administration would keep protecting lives and property, stressing that the safety of every resident, whether in the city or the village, remained a top priority.
The governor acknowledged the contributions of professionals, including farmers, traders, teachers and entrepreneurs, saying their efforts had kept the country going through decades of trials and triumphs.
"We must appreciate the resilience and indomitable spirit of the country's founding fathers and that of other Nigerians – from farmers and traders to teachers and entrepreneurs – who continue to sustain the country through decades of trials and triumphs," he said.
"The difficult economic reforms initiated by the current administration were necessary interventions to save the country from deep-seated fiscal distortions."
He further stated, "The tough choices made over the past three and a half years have successfully arrested economic decline, restored stability, and stimulated growth exceeding four per cent this year."
"The country has reached a turning point. The central objective moving forward is transitioning from structural reform to achieving shared and widespread prosperity."
Reflecting on the significance of the day, Soludo remarked, "Today is special – Nigeria is 66, a new month is here, and we have just entered the last quarter of the year. Three milestones in one day remind us that time is moving, and we must make every moment count."
He added, "At 66, Nigeria has come a long way. We have had our trials and our triumphs, but we remain a resilient, hopeful and blessed nation. The best of Nigeria is still ahead of us."
"As we step into October and the final lap of 2026, I urge us to stay united, stay hopeful, and stay committed to building the Anambra of our dreams and the Nigeria we all desire."
The governor concluded with wishes for peace, progress and prosperity in the final quarter, saying, "Happy New Month, Happy Independence Anniversary, and may this last quarter bring us peace, progress and prosperity. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria."
Soludo delivered the national address on behalf of President Bola Tinubu to an audience that included civil servants, security personnel, civil society groups and government officials.
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