President Bola Tinubu arrived at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja this morning to lead the 64th Independence Day celebrations.
According to The PUNCH, the event, themed ‘Reflecting on the Past; Inspiring the Future,’ began with the President arriving at 10:10 a.m., where he was received as the special guest of honour.
Following the national salute, Tinubu inspected the Guard of Honour, led by Lt. Col. Moshood Yusuf and consisting of members of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
This marks Tinubu’s second time officiating the Independence Day parade as president. Unlike previous years, where the ceremonies were held at Eagle Square, this year’s event was moved to the Villa.
This change, announced by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, in October 2023, was attributed to economic challenges, prompting a scaled-back celebration.
The event also had several high-ranking officials in attendance, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and members of the diplomatic corps. Additionally, former presidents, vice presidents, and service chiefs were present to commemorate the occasion.
