Independence Day in Nigeria, celebrated on October 1st, marks the country’s liberation from British colonial rule in 1960. This day is a time for Nigerians to reflect on their history, celebrate their culture, and look forward to the future. Here’s a comprehensive look at the history and significance of Nigeria’s Independence Day.
Historical Background
Colonial Rule
British Colonization: Nigeria was colonized by the British in the late 19th century, becoming a British protectorate in 1914. The amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates created the colony and protectorate of Nigeria .
Struggle for Independence: The quest for independence gained momentum after World War II, with various nationalist movements pushing for self-governance. Leaders such as Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, and Ahmadu Bello played crucial roles in the independence movement .
Independence
October 1, 1960: Nigeria officially gained independence from Britain. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa became the first Prime Minister, and Nnamdi Azikiwe became the first Governor-General. This marked the beginning of a new era of self-governance and national development .
Early Years of Independence
The early years of independence were marked by significant political and social changes. Nigeria adopted a federal system of government to accommodate its diverse ethnic and cultural groups. However, regional tensions and political conflicts soon emerged, leading to a series of military coups and a civil war .
Significance of Independence Day
National Unity
Cultural Celebration: Independence Day is a time for Nigerians to celebrate their rich cultural heritage, with traditional music, dance, and attire. Cultural festivals and parades are held across the country, showcasing Nigeria’s diverse traditions .
National Pride: The day fosters a sense of national pride and unity among Nigerians, regardless of ethnic or religious differences. It is a time to reflect on the progress made since independence and to reaffirm the commitment to national unity and development .
Reflection and Progress
Historical Reflection: It’s a day to reflect on the struggles and sacrifices made by the country’s founding fathers and nationalists. Their efforts laid the foundation for Nigeria’s sovereignty and development .
Future Aspirations: Nigerians also use this day to contemplate the nation’s progress and future, focusing on development and growth. Discussions on issues such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development are common during Independence Day celebrations .
Challenges and Achievements
Political Instability: Nigeria has faced periods of political instability, including military coups and civil unrest. Despite these challenges, the country has made significant strides in establishing democratic governance .
Economic Growth: Nigeria has seen growth in various sectors, including technology, entertainment (Nollywood), and agriculture. The country continues to work towards economic diversification and sustainable development .
Celebrations and Traditions
Parades and Events
Military Parades: Major cities, especially Abuja, the capital, host grand military parades showcasing the strength and unity of the Nigerian armed forces. These parades include displays of military equipment, performances by military bands, and speeches by government officials .
Cultural Festivals: Various cultural events, including music and dance performances, are held to celebrate the nation’s diversity. These events highlight the unique traditions and customs of Nigeria’s many ethnic groups .
Public Participation
Community Events: Communities organize events such as sports competitions, educational seminars, and social gatherings. These events promote community spirit and provide opportunities for people to come together and celebrate .
Youth Involvement: Schools and universities often hold special programs to educate students about the importance of Independence Day. Activities such as essay competitions, debates, and cultural displays help young people understand and appreciate their country’s history and heritage .
Global Celebrations
Nigerians living abroad also celebrate Independence Day with various events and activities. These celebrations help maintain a connection to their homeland and promote Nigerian culture globally .
Challenges and Achievements
Post-Independence Challenges
Political Instability: Nigeria has faced periods of political instability, including military coups and civil unrest. Despite these challenges, the country has made significant strides in establishing democratic governance since returning to civilian rule in 1999 .
Economic Issues: Despite its wealth of natural resources, Nigeria has struggled with economic challenges, including corruption and poverty. Efforts to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on oil have been ongoing .
Achievements
Democratic Governance: Nigeria has made significant strides in establishing democratic governance. Regular elections, the growth of civil society, and improvements in governance have contributed to political stability .
Economic Growth: The country has seen growth in various sectors, including technology, entertainment (Nollywood), and agriculture. Initiatives to promote entrepreneurship and innovation have also been successful .
Ongoing Efforts
Efforts to address challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and infrastructure development continue. The government and private sector are working together to create a more inclusive and sustainable economy .
Nigeria’s National Anthem Controversy
Recently, Nigeria decided to revert to its previous national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” which was originally used from 1960 until 1978. This change has sparked considerable debate and controversy across the nation. Many Nigerians have expressed mixed feelings about this decision, as the anthem “Arise, O Compatriots” had been a significant part of the country’s identity since 1978 .
The Previous Anthem (Now the New Anthem)
Nigeria, We Hail Thee
Nigeria, we hail thee, Our own dear native land, Though tribes and tongues may differ, In brotherhood we stand, Nigerians all, and proud to serve Our sovereign Motherland.
Our flag shall be a symbol That truth and justice reign, In peace or battle honour’d, And this we count as gain, To hand on to our children A banner without stain.
O God of all creation, Grant this our one request. Help us to build a nation Where no man is oppressed, And so with peace and plenty Nigeria may be blessed .
Conclusion
Nigeria’s Independence Day is more than just a public holiday; it’s a symbol of freedom, unity, and national pride. As Nigerians celebrate this significant day, they reflect on their history, honor their cultural heritage, and aspire for a brighter future. The journey since independence has been marked by challenges and achievements, and the country’s resilience and determination continue to drive progress.
We’ll reintroduce rejected bills on 6-year single term—34 Rep. members
The 34 House of Representatives members who sponsored the bill to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide for a six-year single term for the president have resolved to reintroduce the bill.
Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP-Imo) said this in a statement in Abuja on Friday, following the rejection of the bill on Nov. 21 during plenary.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bill sought the introduction of a six-year single term for the president, governors and local government chairmen.
NAN also reports that the bill sought zonal rotation of presidential and governorship seats, as well as holding all elections in one day.
Ugochinyere, however, said that all hope was not lost on the bill, as more consultations would be done.
The lawmaker, who is the lead sponsor of the bill, said that the decision on the floor of the house would not put an end to agitation and hope, insisting that the objective behind the bill would be realised.
“The struggle to reform our constitutional democracy to be all-inclusive and provide an avenue for justice, equity and fairness has not been lost.
“The decision on the floor of the house yesterday (Thursday) not to allow the bill for six-year single tenure and all elections to hold in one day will not end the agitation,” he said.
Ugochinyere described the rejection of the bill as a temporary setback that would not affect the campaign for an all-inclusive democratic process.
“We are going to review this decision and find possible ways of reintroducing it after, following due legislative procedures.
“All I can tell Nigerians is that we will continue the advocacy and convince our colleagues to see reason with us.
“If elections are held in one day, it will reduce cost and rigging.
“If power rotates, it will help de-escalate political tensions and six-year single term will go a long way in helping elective leaders to focus on delivering their democratic mandate,” he said.
Delta approves N713m for 2024 students bursary payment — Official
Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta has approved the sum of N713 million for the 2024 bursary award for 32,028 students in tertiary institutions in the country.
The Executive Secretary of the State Bursary and Scholarship Board, Dr. Godfrey Enita, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Asaba.
According to Enita, the governor’s approval for the year 2024, the bursary award will cover students of state origin in public and private universities.
“It also covers students in polytechnics, mono-technics, colleges of education, schools of nursing science, and other tertiary schools, including military and paramilitary institutions.
He described the governor’s gesture as rare and uncommon and should be applauded.
“The governor demonstrates his magnanimity and goodwill towards the well-being of the Delta students and youths in general.
“It also underscores his commitment towards educational advancement through financial assistance to students in diverse forms and through massive infrastructural development in schools across the state.
“It is hoped, as always, that beneficiaries of the state’s financial assistance schemes will continue to be worthy ambassadors of Delta wherever they find themselves,” he said.
Survey shows 71% of households affected by food price hike
A new survey report just released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that the most prevalent shock affecting 71 per cent of households in Nigeria is price increases on major food items in the last 12 months.
The survey, 2023/24 General Household Survey-Panel, commonly called (GHS-Panel) Wave-5, is a follow-up to the 2018/2019 GHS Wave-4.
It seeks to enhance the understanding of household living conditions and provide government and other policymakers with reliable information for effective policy decision-making in Nigeria.
It specifically collects information on household income, assets and consumption, income-generating activities, health, education as well as shocks.
The survey conducted in collaboration with the World Bank and released yesterday in Abuja said 48.8 per cent of households surveyed reported that their main mechanism for coping with the increase in the prices of food items was reducing food consumption.
The report further said that 65.8 per cent of the households indicated being unable to eat healthy, nutritious or preferred foods because of lack of money.
The report also shows that 73.0 per cent of survey household members ages 10 to 19 were enrolled in school during 2018/2019 Wave 4 survey. But by 2023/2024 Wave 5 survey, the proportion of the people who were in school had decreased to 44.8 per cent, as 34.8 per cent of those previously enrolled were now out of school.
In the area of energy access, the survey shows that only 40.4 percent of households in rural areas had access to electricity compared to 82.2 per cent of urban households.
It also reports that many households lack toilet facilities and rely on tube wells or boreholes for drinking water. It noted that waste disposal is mostly informal, with 45.6 per cent using bushes or streets.
In his address during the launch of the report, the Statistician General of the Federation (SGF), Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, said the survey is a multi-topic data collection exercise that serves as an essential tool for capturing the dynamics of Nigerian households, providing invaluable insights into their economic activities, well-being, and resilience.
He said it is a longitudinal survey, meaning that it tracks and interviews the same respondents over time. “In the 5th Wave of the survey, approximately the same 5000 households have been followed and interviewed across five waves,” he said.
“This includes Wave One conducted in 2010/11, Wave Two in 2012/13, Wave Three in 2015/16, Wave Four in 2018/19, and now Wave Five conducted in 2023/24.”
He said available records indicate that, over the last five years, the survey findings have been used to design several projects and intervention programmes worth approximately $8.9 billion across many sectors which include Agriculture and Food, Education, Water, Social Protection and Jobs, Governance, and several others.
In his goodwill message, the World Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, Dr Ndiame Diop, said the survey was important in understanding how Nigerian households responded to policy changes, crises and shocks.
Diop, who was represented by Vinay Vutukuru, Programme Leader, Sustainable Development, Nigeria, however, said the key thing was how the data would be used by ministries and stakeholders for effective policy formulation to achieve economic and sustainable growth.
He pledged the bank’s continuous support in working with the NBS to strengthen Nigeria’s statistical system.
Reps reject bill seeking six-year single tenure for president, governors
The House of Representatives on Wednesday rejected a bill seeking a six-year single term for Nigeria’s presidency.
The bill, sponsored by Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo) and 33 others failed to pass second reading on Thursday during a debate on its general principles.
The bill also canvasses the rotation of the presidency among the six geopolitical zones of the country.
35 legislators had in June under the auspices of Reformed-minded Legislators, said the proposition would lead to a reduction in the cost of governance.
Ugochinyere, added that the move would unite the country and ensure a seamless transition and unprecedented development for the country.
The proposed legislation seeks to alter Sections 76, 116, 132, 136, and some others of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
According to the general principles of the bill, “these amendments was to ensure inclusive governance and to curb wastages occasioned by four year periodic elections.
“The bill among others seeks amendment of Section 132 of the Principal Act by inserting a new subsection (2), deleting the extant subsection (4) and renumbering the entire section accordingly to provide that an election to the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be rotated between the North and the South regions of the country every six years.
“Other amendments include, Section 76 of the Principal Act is altered by inserting a new subsection (3) as follows; (3) For the Purposes of Section (1) of this section, all elections into the offices of President, Governors, National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly shall hold simultaneously on the same date to be determined by the Independent National Electoral Commission in consultation with the National Assembly and in accordance with the Electoral Act.
“Section 116 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting a new a subsection (3) as follows; For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, all elections into the offices of President, Governors, National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly and Local Government Councils shall be held simultaneously on the same date to be determined by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in consultation with the National Assembly and in accordance with the Electoral Act.”
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has released a fresh warning on the risks of unregulated products, especially as the festive season approaches.
The warning came after the agency uncovered a warehouse stocked with unregistered and expired supermarket products in Oke-Afa, Okota, part of Lagos State.
According to the Agency on X (formally Twitter), a NAFDAC team acted on intelligence and raided the facility, apprehending operators offloading a 20ft container filled with unregistered carbonated drinks. “A further inspection revealed over 14 rooms packed with unregistered and expired products, some of which were contaminated by rats, indicating poor storage conditions.”
The agency said the facility is currently placed on hold for further investigation and asked the management to provide sourcing evidence such as the Global Listing for Supermarket Items (GLSI) certificate.
It then encouraged consumers to report suspicious activities to any NAFDAC office and remain vigilant by ensuring their product sources are verified, particularly during the coming festive season.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has kicked off phase 7 of the Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Exercise.
The tracking of the constituency and executive projects is an initiative of the Commission that began in 2019, focusing on how well money allocated to critical sectors of education, health, agriculture, water resources, and power, amongst others, by the government is utilised.
The 7th phase, involving 1500 projects with a total project value of N610 billion, commenced on Monday, November 18th, 2024, in 22 states across the 6 geopolitical zones.
The states are Kwara, Niger, Kogi, FCT, Kebbi, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Cross River, Delta, Imo, Abia and Enugu State.
The phase 7 tracking exercise will cut across agencies of government, including intervention agencies such as North-East Development Commission (NEDC), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Rural Electrification Agency (REA), National Primary Health Care Development Authority (NPHCDA), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and Ecological Fund Office.
The objective of the exercise is to deepen adherence to due process in the execution of government projects, improve value for money, and entrench the culture of compliance with the scope and specification as contained in the contract documents.
The ICPC tracked a total of 1,900 projects valued at N500 billion naira in phase 6 of the exercise across 24 states of the nation’s 6 geopolitical zones.
The projects were tracked within the focal sectors of Education, Water Resources, Agriculture, Power, Health, Energy, and Roads.
These projects in the 6th phase were awarded to 1,355 contractors in 176 MDAs.