October 1 has been declared as a public holiday to mark Nigeria’s Diamond Jubilee anniversary by the Federal Government.

This declaration was made by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on behalf of the Federal Government.

He congratulated all Nigerians on the celebration of the 60th Independence and assured of government’s unwavering commitment to the socio-economic transformation of the country.

Aregbesola said:

“A country of about 200 million people whose natural talent, grit and passion glitter like the precious DIAMOND that we are.

“Nigerians are sparkling like diamonds in the pack, whether in Academia, Business, Innovation, Music, Movie, Entertainment, Fashion and culture.

“We are indeed the leading black nation in the entire world and no doubt Africa’s pride and beacon of hope.”

The Minister, in a statement by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Georgina Ehuriah, said though, celebrating 60 years of independence really calls for pomp and pageantry, the global COVID-19 pandemic “we cannot avoid the imperative of a low-keyed celebration at this time.”