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By Gloria Ikibah

The Federal Government has congratulated the Government and people of Botswana on the country’s 60th Independence Anniversary, praising its progress since gaining independence in 1966.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, the government conveyed Nigeria’s warm felicitations to Batswana as the country marked the milestone.

Nigeria’s congratulatory message was conveyed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, on behalf of the Federal Government and people of Nigeria.

The government said Botswana’s journey since independence on September 30, 1966, had been marked by significant progress in nation-building.

“Nigeria recognises the remarkable progress Botswana has made in its nation-building journey since independence on 30 September 1966, and commends its Government and people for their resilience, dedication and courage in advancing national development over the decades,” the minister said.

Nigeria described its relationship with Botswana as longstanding, cordial and mutually beneficial, built around shared values and interests, mutual respect and a commitment to democratic governance, the rule of law and fundamental freedoms.

According to the statement, bilateral relations between both countries have expanded over the years across political, economic and socio-cultural spheres.

The relationship has also been supported by institutional engagement and growing people-to-people exchanges, particularly through the Nigeria-Botswana Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation.

At the multilateral level, Nigeria said it continued to work closely with Botswana within the United Nations, African Union and Commonwealth of Nations.

It said both countries had contributed to efforts aimed at promoting international peace and security, sustainable development and a stronger multilateral system.

Nigeria also reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening its friendship and solidarity with Botswana while deepening bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

The Federal Government extended its best wishes to Botswana’s President, Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, as well as the government and people of the country.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu wished Botswana continued “peace, stability, prosperity and progress” as it entered a new chapter of its post-independence journey.

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By Emmanuel Sanders Agaji

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that Nigeria has moved beyond its most difficult phase of economic reforms and is entering what he described as an “age of prosperity.”

Tinubu made the declaration in his Independence Day address to Nigerians on Thursday, October 1, as the country marks its 66th anniversary of independence.

The President said his administration had taken difficult decisions over the past three years to address what he described as deep-rooted economic distortions, insisting that the reforms were necessary to reposition the country for sustainable growth.

According to him, Nigeria’s journey since independence has been marked by war, military rule, economic crises, insecurity and political upheaval, but the country has endured because of the resilience and determination of its people.

He said independence was not merely about attaining sovereignty, but about creating a country where citizens could shape their own destinies and enjoy opportunity, dignity and a better quality of life.

‘Nigeria was like a sick patient’

Reflecting on the state of the economy when his administration assumed office in 2023, Tinubu likened Nigeria to a sick patient diagnosed with cancer who must choose between painful treatment and temporary relief.

“For too long, Nigeria’s leaders chose morphine while praying for a miracle that never came,” he said, arguing that successive administrations had avoided difficult decisions while allowing structural economic problems to worsen.

Tinubu said his administration instead chose to “excise the cancer,” acknowledging that the reforms had produced painful side effects but insisting that they were different from the problems they were designed to address.

He specifically defended the removal of fuel subsidies and other economic measures, saying the government would resist calls to return to what he described as “addictive subsidies.”

Economy has improved, Tinubu claims

The President said the reforms had begun producing measurable improvements, citing economic growth of more than four per cent, reduced oil theft, lower inflation compared with its peak, rebuilt foreign reserves and greater stability in the foreign exchange market.

He also said Nigeria recorded more than $6 billion in non-oil export revenue in 2025, describing it as the highest in the country’s history.

“These are not idle claims,” Tinubu said, adding that international institutions and the private sector had recognised improvements in Nigeria’s economic stability and resilience.

He declared that the country had now reached “a turning point,” saying the immediate task of correcting the economic course had given way to the broader goal of achieving shared prosperity.

‘Now begins the age of prosperity’

According to Tinubu, the next phase of his administration will focus on reducing the cost of living, expanding agricultural production, creating jobs and strengthening industrial growth.

He said the government would invest in mechanised irrigation, dry-season farming, improved access to seeds and fertiliser, agricultural mechanisation, storage and transportation.

The President also highlighted ongoing investments in roads, railways and ports, saying better infrastructure would help reduce the cost of moving goods from farms and factories to markets.

“Our priority is to bring down the cost of living,” he said, adding that this would be achieved by reducing the cost of producing and transporting goods.

Jobs, industries take centre stage

Tinubu said his administration would place jobs, enterprise and industrial expansion at the centre of its economic agenda.

He pledged to leverage Nigeria’s gas resources to power industries, support the revival of factories, expand digital connectivity and provide Nigerians with skills required by employers.

“I want to see more Nigerians making things. I want to see more Nigerian farms feeding our cities.

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Senator Haruna Manu, representing Taraba Central Senatorial District, has felicitated with his constituents, the people of Taraba State and Nigerians across the country as Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary.

Manu, a former Deputy Governor of Taraba State, in an Independence Day message on Thursday, called on Nigerians to promote peaceful coexistence, unity and mutual understanding as the country reflects on its journey since independence.

He urged communities across Taraba Central and other parts of the country to embrace one another and work together towards building a more peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.

According to him, the challenges confronting the country require collective responsibility, tolerance and a renewed commitment to national unity.

«“A united Nigeria will ensure progress and overcome adversity at all times in our nationhood. As we celebrate this anniversary, may this unity continue to embrace Nigeria on all fronts,” Manu said.»

The senator also commended Nigerians for their resilience, perseverance and determination to keep the country moving forward despite the challenges it has faced over the years.

He urged citizens to continue to uphold the values of peace, unity and patriotism, stressing that the strength of the nation lies in the ability of its diverse people to live and work together.

Nigeria gained independence from British colonial rule on October 1, 1960. The 66th anniversary provides an opportunity for citizens to reflect on the country’s political, economic and social journey while renewing their commitment to its unity and development.

Manu expressed optimism that with greater understanding, cooperation and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians, the country would overcome its challenges and achieve its full potential.