President Muhammadu Buhari will now broadcast to the nation tomorrow, Thursday, October 1, 2020 at 7am as part of activities commemorating the 60th Independence Anniversary of the country.
This latest information has nullified an earlier statement which pointed out that President Buhari would address the nation from the Eagle Square, Abuja.
Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, in a statement issued on Wednesday, enjoined all television, radio and other electronic media outlets to hook up to network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) respectively for the address.
Adesina said the President would thereafter proceed to the Eagle Square, Abuja, to review the Anniversary Parade and participate in other activities beginning at 10am, which will be covered live by major television and radio stations.
He said the updated statement superseded the earlier one indicating an open-air live Presidential Address on October 1.
Adesina had hitherto said the traditional early morning October 1 Presidential Broadcast would not feature today, Thursday, in view of the open-air live address.
Independence Day marks Nigeria’s proclamation of independence from British rule on 1 October 1960. So for this reason, Nigeria celebrates its independence on 1 October every year.
The festivities begin with the President’s address to the people, which is broadcast on radio and television. Another integral part of the festivities is the military parade in Abuja, the parade of students and unions to the folk music and concerts of famous artists
However, the 50th anniversary in 2010 was marred by violence as two car bombings left 12 dead and 17 injured.
The October 2010 Abuja bombings, also referred to as the 2010 Nigeria Independence Day bombings, were two car bombings carried out against crowds celebrating the fiftieth anniversary (golden jubilee) of Nigeria’s independence in the capital city Abuja on the morning of 1 October 2010.
The first blast occurred around 10:30 a.m., emergency services arrived at the scene and then the second blast occurred.
