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Peter Obi Calls for Reflection and Rebuilding as Nigeria Turns 64
As Nigeria marks its 64th independence anniversary, Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has called on Nigerians to reflect deeply on the nation’s journey since gaining independence.
In a heartfelt statement, Obi urged citizens, especially leaders, to take this day as an opportunity not only to celebrate but also to engage in sober reflection.
Obi acknowledged Nigeria’s vast resources—natural, human, and material—that position the country for greatness.
However, he stressed that the country’s current state of affairs calls for introspection, especially for leaders whose actions and inactions have contributed to the challenges the nation faces today.
He posed critical questions about Nigeria’s progress in key areas like poverty alleviation, education, and economic stability.
“Have we lifted our people out of poverty, or have we driven more into it? Have we made education accessible to every Nigerian child?” Obi asked.
He noted that despite the rich potential of the nation, Nigeria is underperforming in almost every measure of development, from security to economic productivity.
Obi pointed out that Nigeria ranks poorly in global indices of security, peacefulness, and corruption, with widespread disregard for the rule of law.
Comparing Nigeria to other countries that gained independence around the same time, Obi lamented that Nigeria stands out as a nation in decline, urgently in need of rescue from further decay.
On this day of celebration, Obi urged Nigerians to make a solemn commitment to build a nation free from tribal disunity, religious disharmony, and the state capture that has dragged it into failure.
He called for the creation of a New and Productive Nigeria that prioritizes the well-being of its citizens.
“That is the independence we should celebrate,” Obi said, emphasizing that Nigeria’s greatness remains possible.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid tribute to late Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs, recalling his contributions to the creative industry and his impact on Nigeria’s cultural identity.
In his tribute, Tinubu described Jacobs as a giant of the Nigerian creative industry and said “He was a giant of the Nigerian creative industry. His passing is a great loss to Nigeria, the African film industry and the global community of lovers of the performing arts. His remarkable body of work will continue to speak to generations yet unborn.
“The nation recognises the enormous contributions of Nigeria’s creative practitioners to the country’s cultural identity, global image and economic development. Olu Jacobs played a big role in creating this identity.”
Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency over the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard drugs and consumer products in Nigeria.
Adeyanju also called for the removal of the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, as well as the heads of other regulatory agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
“Nigerians are being exposed to dangerous products daily, from fake and substandard medicines to unsafe consumer goods, with reports of drugs being sold wholesale in the open under the hot sun. No responsible government should expose its citizens to such risks and expect mortality rates not to rise.”
Adeyanju also called out NAFDAC over what he described as failures in regulating the circulation of counterfeit and substandard products in the country.
It can be noted that various counterfeit products continue to circulate in Nigerian markets, while NAFDAC has also reported seizures and destruction of counterfeit, expired and substandard products.
Lagosians have lamented heavy traffic caused by ongoing construction work at Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Federal Government announced that repairs on the damaged expansion joints at Kara Bridge would begin on September 8, 2026. The project, initially scheduled to begin in August, was delayed to allow further traffic management planning due to concerns over its impact on motorists.
Since work began, traffic around the Kara area has become heavy, with Lagosians sharing updates on social media about spending two hours or more on the road.
Some commuters say the delays have made their 9-to-5 routines difficult, with several hours spent travelling to and from work.
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