Sanwo-Olu acknowledges hardship, urges unity at 66th National Independence Day Parade

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has acknowledged the hardship caused by recent economic reforms, saying rising food, transportation and other living costs have affected households across the state and the country.

Sanwo-Olu spoke on Thursday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos, during the state’s 66th National Independence Day Parade programme, where he reflected on the country’s journey through civil war, military rule, economic difficulties and political upheavals.

Against this backdrop, the governor said Nigeria’s survival through decades of challenges and its 27 consecutive years of constitutional democracy demonstrated the resilience of its people, stressing that the country had remained united under one flag.

Sanwo-Olu, who took the salute during a parade involving the Nigeria Police Force, paramilitary agencies and students, also said the significance of the venue was tied to Nigeria’s independence, recalling that the Union Jack was lowered and the Nigerian flag raised nearby at midnight on October 1, 1960.

He said the current priority should be to ensure that the benefits of economic reforms translate into improved living conditions, while urging Nigerians to remain committed to building a stronger country despite the difficulties confronting households.

Turning to Lagos, the governor described the state as a microcosm of Nigeria and highlighted his administration’s investments in transportation, health care, education and digital governance, including the Blue and Red rail lines, road and bridge projects and expansion of tertiary institutions.

As his tenure approaches its end, Sanwo-Olu said his priority was to leave behind institutions capable of functioning beyond individual administrations, while urging young Nigerians to contribute to the country’s future through democratic participation, technology, entrepreneurship and other productive endeavours.

The governor, who also called for peaceful participation in the 2027 elections, urged Nigerians to protect the country’s unity and build on the legacy of previous generations, declaring that despite the challenges since independence, “the flag has never come down.”