FG Cancels Popular Independence Day Activity, Gives Reason
- The President Bola Tinubu-led federal government has called off the popular Independence Day parade scheduled for Wednesday, October 1, 2025
- According to a statement from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the event was part of the earlier celebration schedule
- Nigerians have reacted to the statement ahead of the 65th Independence Day, demanding a reason for the government's cancellation of the parade
The President Bola Tinubu-led federal government has announced that the popular Independence Day Anniversary parade will not take place. The event was earlier scheduled as part of the 65th celebration on Wednesday, October 1, 2025.
This change to the programme was announced by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, September 29.
Source: Twitter
The government explained that the development did not impact the independence anniversary and remained committed to celebrating the 65th year of Nigeria's independence with enthusiasm and dignity.
According to the statement, the government regretted any inconvenience that the change to the programme might have caused.
Reactions to cancellation of Independence Day parade
However, some Nigerians have started expressing their views about the move. Below are some of their reactions:
Kenee Muji demanded the reason for the change:
"You've not stated any reasons for the cancellation. Not surprised! This administration is known for such misdemeanours. Lest I forget, can you state any reform of your government?"
Chinyere Ewekechinyere remarke:
"There is nothing like Nigeria. Nigeria died in 1914 at the expiration of the 100-year British amalgamation MOU. After December 31st 2013, Nigeria ceased to exist. Everything that has happened since then is a fraud."
Source: Twitter
Megamixer commented:
"Mr Bayo Onanuga @aonanuga1956, with a national milestone at stake, the president's spokesperson can and must do better than an opaque announcement that gives no reason and leaves citizens and stakeholders guessing. Clarity first, not opacity. Cancelling Nigeria’s 65th Independence parade for Wednesday, 1 October 2025, without any stated reason, erodes trust before the celebrations even begin and invites avoidable speculation that distracts from the anniversary itself.
"A decision of this magnitude requires a transparent public interest rationale, the named decision authority, and the policy or legal basis upon which it is based. Citizens are entitled to know whether this decision was based on an intelligence-led security assessment, a severe weather alert, budget reprioritisation, national mourning, or a public health concern, and on whose advice the call was made. The Freedom of Information Act 2011 promotes proactive disclosure where there is an overriding public interest, and the cancellation of a national ceremony plainly meets that threshold."
See the full statement about the Independence Day Parade here:
Nigeria at 65: Analyst decries unfulfilled promises
A political analyst, Oluwafemi Popoola, has shared a somber reflection on Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary, questioning how far the nation has come since the hopes of 1960.
“When Nigeria gained independence in 1960, the promise was radiant. Self-rule, prosperity, stability, and the chance to prove that we could govern ourselves with wisdom and vision were etched into the national consciousness,” he told Legit.ng.
“I imagine the air of hope that filled the streets then, the rhythm of drums and the swelling pride of a people finally free,” the analyst added.
But six and a half decades later, he said, Nigerians are still grappling with deep disappointment:
“But here we are, 65 years later, and I find myself wrestling with a sobering question: what have we truly done with that dream?”
“The dream of 1960 remains suspended in time. And I, like many Nigerians, continue to wrestle with the haunting gap between what was promised and what we live.”
What is Independence Day in Nigeria?
Legit.ng earlier reported that the country's freedom from colonial rule is one of the most significant events in African history. Celebrated annually on October 1, this day marks the birth of a new nation after decades of British control.
Learning about Nigerian Independence Day history helps citizens understand the struggles, sacrifices, and triumphs that shaped the country’s journey to self-rule after long periods of European domination that reshaped its landscape.
Editorial assistant Ololade Olatimehin provided exclusive commentary from a political analyst for this report.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
