As Nigeria celebrates its 66th Independence Anniversary, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has urged citizens to renew their commitment to national unity, peaceful coexistence and development, stressing that building a prosperous nation requires the collective effort of both government and citizens.
Director-General of the NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, made the call in his Independence Day message, describing Nigeria’s attainment of independence from colonial rule as a defining milestone that gave Nigerians the opportunity to determine their own destiny and shape the future of the country.
Issa-Onilu acknowledged the challenges Nigeria has faced since independence but noted that the country has also recorded significant progress, urging citizens to recognise these achievements while remaining committed to addressing areas requiring further improvement.
According to him, sustaining Nigeria’s progress requires citizens to take greater responsibility for the kind of country they want to build.
“We must continue to hold on to the gains of our independence by taking responsibility for the Nigeria we want. The progress of our country depends not only on what the government does, but also on what each of us contributes as citizens,” Issa-Onilu said.
He stressed that government alone cannot build the Nigeria citizens desire, calling for greater participation, cooperation and commitment from Nigerians in supporting national development efforts.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, the NOA boss urged Nigerians to protect the country’s peace and unity by respecting political differences, rejecting hate speech and violence, and resolving disagreements through lawful and democratic means.
Political competition, he cautioned, should not be allowed to undermine the bonds that unite Nigerians. He therefore encouraged citizens to embrace issue-based engagement, respect divergent views and uphold the rule of law before, during and after the elections.
Looking beyond the Independence Day celebrations, Issa-Onilu urged Nigerians to sustain the gains of independence through increased productivity, self-reliance and responsible citizenship.
He emphasised that every Nigerian has a role to play in building a stronger nation through productive work, respect for national values, peaceful coexistence and positive contributions to their communities.
Issa-Onilu reaffirmed the NOA’s commitment to promoting patriotism, national unity and responsible citizenship, while providing citizens with accurate information on government policies and programmes and encouraging constructive participation in national development.
