The Federal Government has declared Monday, October 3, 2022 as public holiday to mark the country’s 62nd Independence Anniversary Celebration.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, made the declaration on Wednesday on behalf of the Federal Government.

In a statement signed by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Shuaib Belgore, the Minister assured Nigerians of government’s commitment to addressing all the challenges facing the nation.

Aregbesola also reiterated the prestigious position of Nigeria in the comity of nations and the greatness that lie ahead.

He said “The world is going through dire economic and security challenges which have also affected our nation. However, 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.”

The Minister also encouraged Nigerians to use the occasion of the celebration to contemplate on the challenges facing the nation and the role individuals can play in addressing them.

“Our 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’s pride and beacon of hope. If we can rally ourselves together to harness our potential, we shall be the greatest nation on the earth,” Aregbesola noted.

The minister however urged Nigerians to shun violence of any kind and be security conscious, asking them to report any suspicious persons or activities to the nearest security agency.

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