The announcement was made by the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on behalf of the Federal Government.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Magdalene Ajani, the minister felicitated with all Nigerians at home and in the diaspora on the occasion of the independence celebration.
Tunji-Ojo described Nigeria as a great nation blessed with warm and welcoming people, abundant human capital and rich natural resources, noting that these qualities make Nigeria unarguably the most prosperous black nation in the world.
He said Nigeria remains the beacon of hope for the actualization of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.
The minister stressed that peace and stability are prerequisites for national development, adding that no nation can achieve meaningful progress in an atmosphere of chaos and disunity.
He therefore called on Nigerians to emulate the patriotism and selfless sacrifice of the nation's founding fathers who fought for the country's independence.
According to him, Nigerians must remain committed to building a nation that future generations will be proud of.
"As we celebrate 66 years of our independence, we should always remember that there is hope for our country and our diversity is our strength, and our collective determination remains the foundation upon which a stronger and more prosperous nation will be built," the minister said.
Tunji-Ojo assured citizens that the present administration is committed to building a better Nigeria for all, as a befitting tribute to the heroes past who laboured for the nation's freedom.
He urged Nigerians to use the Independence Day celebration as an opportunity to reflect on and demonstrate core national values of unity, patriotism, peaceful co-existence and mutual respect for one another.
The minister expressed optimism that a new Nigeria is achievable, assuring that the Federal Government remains committed to strengthening national security, improving public safety and creating an enabling environment where every citizen can live, work and pursue their legitimate aspirations with confidence.
He congratulated Nigerians once again and wished them a happy and peaceful 66th Independence Anniversary celebration.
