A coalition of 130 Pan-Yoruba groups has written to the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, warning of what they described as a looming genocide against the Yoruba people of Western Nigeria.

In a letter signed by Popoola Ajayi, Secretary-General of the Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements, the groups alleged that a coalition of terrorist forces operating within and outside Nigeria was plotting to invade Yoruba territories.

The petition cited the September 17 killing of 15 people, including women and children, at Oke-Ode in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State by suspected Fulani militants.

AYDM described the attack as a prelude to wider invasions, alleging that Nigeria’s security operatives were compromised and sections of the political elite were complicit.

“The mass murder of 15 people in Kwara, including women and children by Fulani terrorists was a prelude to the mass invasion of Yoruba territories by heavily armed terrorists who are known for their thirst for blood and human flesh,” AYDM said.

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The body also said, the Yoruba people have endured more than a century of violence and torture in the hands of extremists since the 1804 Jihad was launched, describing the latest string of violence as the continuation of the extremists’ desire to impose on the people a theocratic state where democracy is seen as a crime.

“The Nigerian security operatives are compromised while a section of the political class is hand-in-glove with the terrorists, making the prospect of state resolution of the lingering crisis difficult.,” Ajayi warned.

The groups accused extremists of pursuing a long-standing agenda dating back to the 1804 Jihad, claiming it was aimed at imposing a theocratic state where democracy is criminalised.

AYDM also pointed to past atrocities, including the 2020 assassination of Oba Israel Adeusi, the Olufon of Ifon; the killings of other traditional rulers; the June 10, 2022, Owo Catholic Church massacre that left 40 people dead; and the 2024 killing of Oba Segun Aremu, the Onikoro of Ikoro, alongside the kidnapping of his wife.

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On Sunday, no fewer than 15 vigilantes and hunters were killed when armed bandits stormed the Oke-Ode community.

Residents told PUNCH Online that several others were abducted during the attack, which has thrown the community into mourning.

A video obtained by our correspondent showed the bodies of the slain vigilantes lying on the ground after the assault.

AYDM’s demands to the UN

The coalition urged the UN to intervene through three steps: compel Nigeria to uphold the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, ensuring justice, democracy, and self-determination, convene an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Nigeria to push for restructuring and self-determination and check Ukraine’s alleged role in sponsoring Sahel-based terrorists, citing statements by Ukrainian intelligence spokesperson Andriy Yusov that, they claim, confirmed involvement.

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The groups warned that failure to act could result in Africa’s worst bloodbath, with consequences for regional and global security.

“The Yoruba are peace-loving and detest violence, but we will not watch helplessly while our people are massacred. We will defend our ancestral land with our last breath. The UN must act now to prevent war, not after genocide has been committed,” the statement read.

The petition was co-signed by leaders of several Yoruba and allied organisations, including the O’odua Peoples Congress (various factions), O’odua Nationalist Coalition, Okun Peoples Association, Kwara Indigenous Peoples League, Yoruba Artisans and Traders Association, South West Professionals Forum, among others.

By Israel Adebiyi

Sixty-five years. That is how long Nigeria has walked as an independent nation, free from the shackles of colonial rule. On October 1st, 1960, we hoisted our green-white-green flag in jubilant defiance of empire, believing freedom had come at last. We called it independence, and it was. But as we mark our 65th year, we must ask: have we truly been free? Or are we still trapped in cycles of dependence, disillusion, and deferred dreams?

True freedom is not merely the absence of foreign rulers; it is the presence of dignity, progress, justice, and opportunity for all citizens. By this measure, our long walk to freedom remains unfinished.

Nigeria began her independence journey shoulder-to-shoulder with countries like Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea. But while they transformed into economic giants and innovation hubs, we stumbled, burdened by corruption, bad governance, and short-sighted leadership. In the 1970s, one U.S. dollar exchanged for less than one naira; today, it takes over ₦1,500 to buy that same dollar. Once, our groundnut pyramids, cocoa farms, and palm oil defined agricultural wealth; today, we import even the most basic food items.

Education was once our ladder to dignity. In the 1960s and 70s, Nigerian universities ranked among the best in Africa, drawing scholars from across the continent. Today, classrooms leak, teachers strike endlessly, and children sit under trees to learn. With over 20 million out-of-school children, Nigeria carries the shameful crown of the world’s highest. These are not mere numbers—they are stolen futures. From Yobe to Zamfara, from Benue to Lagos, the dream of literacy is drowned in poverty and neglect.

Songs like Eko Dara Pupo -“Education is very good” -once carried our hope. But what hope do children chant today, when graduates roam the streets jobless and when academic excellence is rewarded with crumbs? We claim education is the foundation of progress, yet treat it as an afterthought. This explains the erroneously conclusion that education is a scam.

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Independence ought to guarantee safety, yet Nigerians live under constant siege. Bandits terrorize the North-West, Boko Haram still prowls the North-East, farmers and herders clash in the Middle Belt, kidnappers prowl highways, and cultists haunt urban streets. Nowhere feels truly safe. Insecurity has displaced millions, destroyed farmlands, and fueled poverty.

What is freedom if children cannot sleep in peace, if farmers cannot till their soil, if investors cannot trust our stability? Freedom without security is bondage by another name.

At independence, Nigeria dreamed of industrial glory. Assembly plants in Kaduna, Enugu, and Lagos produced vehicles and machinery. Textile factories in Kano and Kaduna hummed with activity, clothing millions and providing jobs. Tire factories like Dunlop and Michelin once anchored our industrial drive. Today, those factories are ghosts. We import toothpicks, pencils, and even fuel, though we sit on oceans of crude oil.

While Asian tigers industrialized and built global brands, we clung to crude oil like a curse. Instead of diversifying, we fed corruption, squandered revenues, and left future generations to inherit dependence.

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A nation’s greatness rests on its roads, rails, and power. Yet Nigeria limps with broken infrastructure. Roads like Lagos–Benin, Abuja–Lokoja, and Enugu–Port Harcourt remain nightmares of potholes and death. Railway projects crawl at a snail’s pace, leaving us dependent on dangerous highways.

And then, electricity – the eternal shame. Despite spending over $20 billion since 1999, Nigerians still power their homes and businesses with generators, spending billions more yearly on fuel. What other evidence of dysfunction could be more glaring?

Our hospitals remain shadows of themselves. Leaders fly abroad for treatment, while ordinary Nigerians die in poorly equipped wards. Medical tourism drains over $1 billion annually. Our doctor-to-patient ratio stands at 1:4,000, far from the WHO’s recommended 1:600. Doctors strike, nurses leave for better pay abroad, and the poor are left at the mercy of fate. What freedom is this, when the nation cannot guarantee life itself?

At the heart of it all lies corruption. Transparency International consistently ranks Nigeria poorly, not out of bias but reality. Politicians live in obscene luxury while workers struggle on ₦70,000 minimum wage. Security votes vanish into private pockets. Institutions are weakened and laws bend to serve the powerful. Our democracy is too often a game of thrones, where the prize is not service but plunder.

Yet, Nigeria is not a hopeless land. We are a paradox of pain and promise. Our people shine everywhere they are given fair opportunity. Nigerian immigrants in the U.S. and U.K. rank among the most educated and accomplished. Nollywood is the world’s second-largest film industry, and Afrobeats has conquered global charts. Tech start-ups like Flutterwave, Paystack, and Andela are billion-dollar ventures. Even in adversity, Nigerians innovate, endure, and excel.

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We are a nation that refuses to die.

At 65, the question is not whether Nigeria can change, it is whether Nigerians will demand change. Leadership matters, yes, but good followership is equally critical. Citizens must rise to hold leaders accountable, to resist the lure of handouts, to demand policies that prioritize education, healthcare, industrialization, and security. We cannot continue to mortgage our future for bags of rice, wads of cash, or empty promises.

Freedom must become more than a flag or anthem. It must be felt in working schools, safe streets, thriving factories, reliable electricity, accessible healthcare, and strong institutions. Until then, independence is a shell, and freedom a mirage.

Nigeria at 65 is both triumph and tragedy. We have survived civil war, dictatorship, poverty, and terror. We have endured storms that could have broken weaker nations. But survival is not enough. To truly walk in freedom, we must move beyond endurance to excellence, beyond survival to significance.

The journey is long, but the choice is ours. Shall we continue to limp in circles, or will we march with intent into the destiny our forebears dreamed of in 1960?

Nigeria is too great to be ordinary. At 65, the time has come to prove that our independence was not in vain.

NATIONAL BROADCAST BY HIS EXCELLENCY BOLA AHNED TINUBU, GCFR, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON THE 65TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY OF NIGERIA, OCTOBER 1, 2025

Fellow Nigerians,

Today marks the 65th anniversary of our great nation’s Independence. As we reflect on the significance of this day and our journey of nationhood since October 1, 1960, when our founding fathers accepted the instruments of self-government from colonial rule, let us remember their sacrifice, devotion, and grand dream of a strong, prosperous, and united Nigeria that will lead Africa and be the beacon of light to the rest of the world.

Our founding heroes and heroines—Herbert Macaulay, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Margaret Ekpo, Anthony Enahoro, Ladoke Akintola, Michael Okpara, Aminu Kano, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, and other nationalists—believed it was Nigeria’s manifest destiny to lead the entire black race as the largest black nation on earth.

For decades, the promise of our Independence has been tested by profound social, economic, and political challenges, and we have survived. While we may not have achieved all the lofty dreams of our forebearers, we have not strayed too far from them. In 65 years since our Independence, we have made tremendous progress in economic growth, social cohesion, and physical development. Our economy has experienced significant growth since 1960.

Although, it is much easier for those whose vocation is to focus solely on what ought to be, we must recognise and celebrate our significant progress. Nigerians today have access to better education and healthcare than in 1960. At Independence, Nigeria had 120 secondary schools with a student population of about 130,000. Available data indicate that, as of year 2024, there were more than 23,000 secondary schools in our country. At Independence, we had only the University of Ibadan and Yaba College of Technology as the two tertiary institutions in Nigeria. By the end of last year, there were 274 universities, 183 Polytechnics, and 236 Colleges of Education in Nigeria, comprising Federal, State, and private institutions. We have experienced a significant surge in growth across every sector of our national life since Independence – in healthcare, infrastructure, financial services, manufacturing, telecommunications, information technology, aviation and defence, among others.

Our country has experienced both the good and the bad times in its 65 years of nationhood, as is normal for every nation and its people. We fought a bitter and avoidable civil war, experienced military dictatorships, and lived through major political crises. In all these, we weathered every storm and overcame every challenge with courage, grit, and uncommon determination. While our system and ties that bind us are sometimes stretched by insidious forces opposed to our values and ways of life, we continue to strive to build a more perfect union where every Nigerian can find better accommodation and find purpose and fulfilment.
Fellow Compatriots, this is the third time I will address you on our independence anniversary since I assumed office as your President on May 29, 2023. In the last 28 months of my administration, like our founding fathers and leaders who came before me, I have committed myself irrevocably to the unfinished nation-building business.

Upon assuming office, our administration inherited a near-collapsed economy caused by decades of fiscal policy distortions and misalignment that had impaired real growth. As a new administration, we faced a simple choice: continue business as usual and watch our nation drift, or embark on a courageous, fundamental reform path. We chose the path of reform. We chose the path of tomorrow over the comfort of today. Less than three years later, the seeds of those difficult but necessary decisions are bearing fruit.

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In resetting our country for sustainable growth, we ended the corrupt fuel subsidies and multiple foreign exchange rates that created massive incentives for a rentier economy, benefiting only a tiny minority. At the same time, the masses received little or nothing from our Commonwealth. Our administration has redirected the economy towards a more inclusive path, channelling money to fund education, healthcare, national security, agriculture, and critical economic infrastructure, such as roads, power, broadband, and social investment programmes. These initiatives will generally improve Nigerians’ quality of life. As a result of the tough decisions we made, the Federal and State governments, including Local Governments, now have more resources to take care of the people at the lower level of the ladder, to address our development challenges.

Fellow Nigerians, we are racing against time. We must build the roads we need, repair the ones that have become decrepit, and construct the schools our children will attend and the hospitals that will care for our people. We have to plan for the generations that will come after us. We do not have enough electricity to power our industries and homes today, or the resources to repair our deteriorating roads, build seaports, railroads, and international airports comparable to the best in the world, because we failed to make the necessary investments decades ago. Our administration is setting things right.

I am pleased to report that we have finally turned the corner. The worst is over, I say. Yesterday’s pains are giving way to relief. I salute your endurance, support, and understanding. I will continue to work for you and justify the confidence you reposed in me to steer the ship of our nation to a safe harbour.

Under our leadership, our economy is recovering fast, and the reforms we started over two years ago are delivering tangible results. The second quarter 2025 Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.23%—Nigeria’s fastest pace in four years—and outpaced the 3.4 per cent projected by the International Monetary Fund. Inflation declined to 20.12% in August 2025, the lowest level in three years. The administration is working diligently to boost agricultural production and ensure food security, reducing food costs.

In the last two years of our administration, we have achieved 12 remarkable economic milestones as a result of the implementation of our sound fiscal and monetary policies:

We have attained a record-breaking increase in non-oil revenue, achieving the 2025 target by August with over N20 trillion. In September 2025 alone, we raised N3.65 trillion, 411% higher than the amount raised in May 2023.

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We have restored Fiscal Health: Our debt service-to-revenue ratio has been significantly reduced from 97% to below 50%. We have paid down the infamous “Ways and Means” advances that threatened our economic stability and triggered inflation. Following the removal of the corrupt petroleum subsidy, we have freed up trillions of Naira for targeted investment in the real economy and social programmes for the most vulnerable, as well as all tiers of government.

We have a stronger foreign Reserve position than three years ago. Our external reserves increased to $42.03 billion this September—the highest since 2019.

Our tax-to-GDP ratio has risen to 13.5 per cent from less than 10 per cent. The ratio is expected to increase further when the new tax law takes effect in January. The tax law is not about increasing the burden on existing taxpayers but about expanding the base to build the Nigeria we deserve and providing tax relief to low-income earners.

We are now a Net Exporter: Nigeria has recorded a trade surplus for five consecutive quarters. We are now selling more to the world than we are buying, a fundamental shift that strengthens our currency and creates jobs at home. Nigeria’s trade surplus increased by 44.3% in Q2 2025 to ₦7.46 trillion ($4.74 billion), the largest in about three years. Goods manufactured in Nigeria and exported jumped by 173%. Non-oil exports, as a component of our export trade, now represent 48 per cent, compared to oil exports, which account for 52 per cent. This signals that we are diversifying our economy and foreign exchange sources outside oil and gas.

Oil production rebounded to 1.68 million barrels per day from barely one million in May 2023. The increase occurred due to improved security, new investments, and better stakeholder management in the Niger Delta. Furthermore, the country has made notable advancements by refining PMS domestically for the first time in four decades. It has also established itself as the continent’s leading exporter of aviation fuel.

The Naira has stabilised from the turbulence and volatility witnessed in 2023 and 2024. The gap between the official rate and the unofficial market has reduced substantially, following FX reforms and fresh capital and remittance inflows. The multiple exchange rates, which fostered corruption and arbitrage, are now part of history. Additionally, our currency rate against the dollar is no longer determined by fluctuations in crude oil prices.

Under the social investment programme to support poor households and vulnerable Nigerians, N330 billion has been disbursed to eight million households, many of whom have received either one or two out of the three tranches of the N25,000 each.

Coal mining recovered dramatically from a 22% decline in Q1 to 57.5% growth in Q2, becoming one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing sectors. The solid mineral sector is now pivotal in our economy, encouraging value-added production of minerals extracted from our soil.

The administration is expanding transport infrastructure across the country, covering rail, roads, airports, and seaports. Rail and water transport grew by over 40% and 27%, respectively. The 284-kilometre Kano-Kastina-Maradi Standard Gauge rail project and the Kaduna-Kano rail line are nearing completion. Work is progressing well on the legacy Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-Badagry Highway. The Federal Executive Council recently approved $3 billion to complete the Eastern Rail Project.

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The world is taking notice of our efforts. Sovereign credit rating agencies have upgraded their outlook for Nigeria, recognising our improved economic fundamentals. Our stock market is experiencing an unprecedented boom, rising from an all-share index of 55,000 points in May 2003 to 142,000 points as of September 26, 2025.

At its last MPC meeting, the Central Bank slashed interest rates for the first time in five years, expressing confidence in our country’s macroeconomic stability.

SECURITY:
We are working diligently to enhance national security, ensuring our economy experiences improved growth and performance. The officers and men of our armed forces and other security agencies are working tirelessly and making significant sacrifices to keep us safe. They are winning the war against terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes. We see their victories in their blood and sweat to stamp out Boko Haram Terror in North-East, IPOB/ESN terror in South East and banditry and kidnapping. We must continue to celebrate their gallantry and salute their courage on behalf of a grateful nation. Peace has returned to hundreds of our liberated communities in North-West and North-East, and thousands of our people have returned safely to their homes.

YOUTH:
I have a message for our young people. You are the future and the greatest assets of this blessed country. You must continue to dream big, innovate, and conquer more territories in your various fields of science, technology, sports, and the art and creative sector. Our administration, through policies and funding, will continue to give you wings to fly sky-high. We created NELFUND to support students with loans for their educational pursuits. Approximately 510,000 students across 36 states and the FCT have benefited from this initiative, covering 228 higher institutions. As of September 10, the total loan disbursed was N99.5 billion, while the upkeep allowance stood at N44.7 billion.

Credicorp, another initiative of our administration, has granted 153,000 Nigerians N30 billion affordable loans for vehicles, solar energy, home upgrades, digital devices, and more.

YouthCred, which I promised last June, is a reality, with tens of thousands of NYSC members now active beneficiaries of consumer credit for resettlement.

Under our Renewed Hope Agenda, we promised to build a Nigeria where every young person, regardless of background, has an equitable opportunity to access a better future—thus, the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) programme. The Bank of Industry is driving the programme, in collaboration with the African Development Bank, the French Development Agency, and the Islamic Development Bank. This initiative is at the cusp of implementation. Over the last two years, we have collaborated with our partners to launch the programme, supporting our young builders and dreamers in the technology and creative sectors.

A MESSAGE OF HOPE
Fellow Nigerians, I have always candidly acknowledged that these reforms have come with some temporary pains. The biting effects of inflation and the rising cost of living remain a significant concern to our government. However, the alternative of allowing our country to descend into economic chaos or bankruptcy was not an option. Our macro-economic progress has proven that our sacrifices have not been in vain. Together, we are laying a new foundation cast in concrete, not on quicksand.

The accurate measure of our success will not be limited to economic statistics alone, but rather in the food on our families’ tables, the quality of education our children receive, the electricity in our homes, and the security in our communities. Let me assure you of our administration’s determination to ensure that the resources we have saved and the stability we have built are channelled into these critical areas. Today, the governors at the state level, and the local government autonomy are yielding more developments.

Therefore, on this 65th Anniversary of Our Independence, my message is hope and a call to action. The federal government will continue to do its part to fix the plumbing in our economy. Now, we must all turn on the taps of productivity, innovation, and enterprise, just like the Ministry of Interior has done with our travel passports, by quickening the processing. In this regard, I urge the sub-national entities to join us in nation-building. Let us be a nation of producers, not just consumers. Let us farm our land and build factories to process our produce. Let us patronise ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ goods. I say Nigeria first. Let us pay our taxes.

Finally, let all hands be on deck. Let us believe, once more, in the boundless potential of our great nation.

With Almighty God on our side, I can assure you that the dawn of a new, prosperous, self-reliant Nigeria is here.

Happy 65th Independence Anniversary, and may God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Amen.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR
President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Presidential Villa,
Abuja.