Tuesday 20 October

Send us your video Advertise
Sign in Join free

#October1

VideoPresident Tinubu's Independence Day broadcast: TVC News on YouTube

NigeriaLive · Video

Nigeria at 66: live updates from Independence week

Prayers, a world press conference and a public lecture lead up to President Tinubu's nationwide broadcast on Thursday, 1 October.

Updated 18:24 WAT, 30 Sep 2026: The Federal Government has declared Thursday, 1 October, a public holiday. Updated 10:06 WAT, 30 Sep 2026: President Tinubu returned to Lagos on Tuesday evening after a month in London and Paris, and will mark the anniversary in the city. Nigeria marks 66 years of independence on Thursday, 1 October. The Federal Government has…

Story page
  1. Britain merged the northern and southern protectorates on 1 January 1914
  2. Independence came at midnight on 30 September 1960, at the Lagos Race Course
  3. Nigeria became a republic on 1 October 1963, with Nnamdi Azikiwe as president
Gist Reel

History · 2 min read

Nigeria at 66: how 1 October 1960 came about, and why it still matters

As the country marks a low-key 66th anniversary on Thursday, here is the road from amalgamation to independence and the republic that followed.

On Thursday, Nigeria turns 66. The Federal Government says this year’s celebration is low-key: prayers and a world press conference last week, then a public lecture on Wednesday and a nationwide broadcast by President Bola Tinubu on 1 October. Before the speeches begin, here is a quick refresher on how the day came to be. The road to 1960 Modern…

Story page

The newsletter

Get the gist before everyone else.

A five-minute read on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7am. Free, and you can leave any time.