Tinubu To Celebrate Independence Day In Lagos, Set For Nationwide Broadcast

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria on Tuesday, September 29, and proceed to Lagos, where he is scheduled to participate in activities marking the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

According to Presidency sources, barring any last-minute change in plans, Tinubu will arrive through the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, where he is expected to be received by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The President is expected to remain in Lagos through Thursday, October 1, when he will deliver a nationwide broadcast to Nigerians as part of the Independence Day celebrations.

The Federal Government has already announced a programme of activities for the 66th Independence Anniversary, with the celebrations expected to be low-key. The programme includes an Independence Day public lecture scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, followed by the President’s nationwide broadcast on October 1.

Tinubu’s planned return comes after the Presidency announced that he had extended his working vacation by a few days. The President departed Nigeria on August 30 for London before subsequently travelling to Paris, where he held engagements with French President Emmanuel Macron and other business leaders.

The President had earlier been expected to return to Abuja before the latest itinerary indicated that he would instead spend the Independence anniversary period in Lagos.

If the plan proceeds as announced, it would mark the second consecutive year that Tinubu observes Nigeria’s Independence Day in Lagos. In 2025, he delivered his Independence Day address from the State House, Dodan Barracks, in Lagos and later attended events connected to the anniversary.

The Federal Government’s 2026 anniversary programme is designed to provide an opportunity for reflection on Nigeria’s journey since independence and the contributions of the country’s founding figures, while also highlighting the government’s ongoing programmes and reforms.

Tinubu is expected to return to Abuja after the Independence Day activities as his administration continues preparations for the next phase of government engagements.