*Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Minister for Interior, urges all Nigerians to use the occasion of the celebration to reflect on the challenges facing the West African country and the role individuals can play in addressing them

Alexander Davis | 绿帽献妻

The Federal Government has declared Monday, October 3, 2022, as a public holiday to mark the country鈥檚 62nd independence anniversary celebrations

Dr. Shuaib Belgore, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, said in a statement: 鈥淭he Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulates all Nigerians on this year鈥檚 celebration and assures of government鈥檚 commitment to tackling all the challenges facing the nation and bring smiles to the faces of all the people.鈥�

The statement quoted Ogbeni Aregbesola as saying: 鈥淭he world is going through dire economic and security challenges which have also affected our nation.

鈥淗owever, I am assuring us all that the government will not abandon the people, but will continue to confront all these challenges with all the might at our disposal until respite comes our way.鈥�

鈥淥ur warmth, welcoming spirit and love as well as our unbounded human capital and the richness of our land, make Nigeria unarguably the leading black nation in the world and Africa鈥檚 pride and beacon of hope.鈥�

The Minister also stated: 鈥淚f we can rally ourselves together to harness our potentials, we shall be the greatest nation on the earth.

鈥淎 country of over 200 million people whose natural talents, grit and passion glitter like the precious diamond that we are; Nigerians are sparkling like diamonds in the pack, whether in the academia, science and technology, business, innovation, music, entertainment, fashion or culture.鈥�

Aregbesola urged Nigerians to use the occasion of the celebration to reflect on the challenges facing the nation and the role individuals can play in addressing them.

He further enjoined Nigerians to work hard, shun any attraction to get rich through criminal and other immoral means, saying only through productivity can an individual and the country create wealth and get rich.

While wishing Nigerians a memorable independence celebration, he equally reminds them of the fact that the country鈥檚 founding fathers, despite their differences in faith, tribe and tongue, still came together for Nigeria鈥檚 Independence.

The Minister also said: 鈥淭hough our nation is going through challenges, especially on security, these challenges are temporary and do not define us.

鈥淲e are defined by the greatness of the Nigerian people in our diversity, strength, ingenuity and resilience.

鈥淲e shall overcome all the challenges. A time is coming when we shall look at this period in retrospect and give thanks to the most high for the stormy waters we have waded through and the triumphs we have recorded over the challenges that look so huge and gargantuan today.鈥�

Aregbesola, therefore, urged all Nigerians to join hands together with the Muhammadu Buhari Administration in its quest to ensure a better Nigeria for all citizens, both at home and abroad as this, he said, shall be a befitting tribute to our heroes past.

The Minister charged fellow Nigerians to shun violence of any kind and be security conscious, requesting them to report any suspicious persons or activities to the nearest security agency and through the N-Alert application on Android and IOS.

鈥淲hen you see something, do N-Alert for prompt response from security agents,鈥� the Minister stated.