President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is scheduled to visit Imo State on Tuesday, 30 September 2025, to inaugurate a series of key infrastructure projects completed by the administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma.

This was confirmed in a statement issued Friday by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, and further affirmed by Governor Uzodimma in a separate message released on Saturday.

In his official statement, Uzodimma welcomed the President’s upcoming visit with “great joy and a deep sense of honour,” stating that the visit was a significant moment for the people and government of Imo State.

“On behalf of the government and good people of our dear state, I warmly welcome the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR,” Uzodimma said.

During his visit, President Tinubu is expected to commission several completed projects, including the rebuilt Owerri–Mbaise–Obowo–Umuahia Road, a new flyover linking Port Harcourt and Onitsha Roads, with major upgrades around Assumpta Cathedral Roundabout and the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Conference Centre.

These projects, Uzodimma said, represent major milestones in the state’s infrastructure development agenda.

As part of the itinerary, President Tinubu will also unveil a new book authored by Governor Uzodimma titled:

“A Decade of Impactful Progressive Governance in Nigeria.”

The book is a reflection on the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s journey since it first assumed power in 2015.

Both Tinubu and Uzodimma are leading figures within the APC, which first came to power when Muhammadu Buhari defeated then-incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.

This will be President Tinubu’s second official visit to Imo State this year.

His last visit was in January 2024, when he attended the inauguration ceremony marking Governor Uzodimma’s second term in office.

Tinubu was previously scheduled to visit in August 2025 to commission “legacy projects,” but that trip was postponed.

As part of activities marking Nigeria’s upcoming 65th Independence Anniversary, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja.

The service was organised to offer prayers and gratitude for the nation, ahead of the official Independence Day on October 1.

Among the dignitaries in attendance were; Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume (both accompanied by their spouses), Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, Former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Simon Lalong among others.

The service also saw a strong presence of Nigeria’s security leadership.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, led top service chiefs, including Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs. Kemi Nandap and Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche.

Their participation underscored the symbolic unity of Nigeria’s civil and military institutions in commemorating the country’s independence.

Earlier in the week, the Federal Government unveiled the theme for this year’s celebrations:
“Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation.”

In a statement by the Director of Information and Public Relations in the SGF’s office, Segun Imohiosen, the theme was described as a call to action for unity, collaboration and patriotism across all sectors, government, private enterprise, civil society and individual citizens.

“The theme reflects the collective responsibility required to achieve peace, prosperity, and national progress,” the statement noted.

The church service is part of a series of events lined up to mark Nigeria’s independence, reinforcing messages of hope, resilience and national unity.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, has stated that the issues facing Nigeria today did not originate with the administration of President Bola Tinubu, but are the result of long-standing national challenges.

Speaking on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at a special service held at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, Akume emphasized that nation-building is a shared responsibility.

“Each Nigerian has a role in building the Nigeria that we deserve,” he said.

Akume praised President Tinubu for initiating what he called bold and overdue reforms, including the controversial removal of fuel subsidy, which he said should have been done decades ago.

“What President Bola Tinubu is doing today could have been done 39 years ago. But I believe that at the end of the tunnel, there is light,” the SGF added.

He called on Nigerians to rally behind the President and support efforts aimed at transforming the country.

The SGF also stressed the importance of unity and collaboration across all arms of government, the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary, to ensure that reforms are successful and sustainable.

“We must always cooperate: the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary,” he urged.

Akume noted that Independence Day is not only a time for celebration, but also a moment for reflection and appreciation of the sacrifices made by Nigeria’s founding fathers in securing freedom from colonial rule.

“Today is not just about celebrating our independence, but honouring those who made it possible,” he concluded.

Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has launched a strong critique of Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, stating that Labour Party’s Peter Obi remains more popular, even in Umahi’s home state of Ebonyi.

In a detailed post on her verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Adichie responded to what she described as several unflattering remarks Umahi has made about Obi.

She asserted that Obi’s credibility and popularity far outweigh Umahi’s, particularly in the Southeast region.

“Even in Ebonyi, should you contest against Peter Obi, the people will choose him over you,” she wrote.

Adichie described Umahi as a “failed engineer”, criticizing his emphasis on concrete and cement infrastructure which she claimed have largely been substandard or unsuccessful.

She also pointed to what she described as political inconsistency on Umahi’s part.

Recalling his 2020 defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Umahi claimed at the time it was in protest of PDP’s failure to zone the presidency to the Southeast.

However, Adichie argued that five years later, no Southeasterner has emerged as president—and Umahi now claims “it’s not yet our turn.”

The award-winning author drew a sharp contrast between Umahi and Peter Obi.

She described Obi as a symbol of accountability, fiscal discipline, and genuine leadership, while Umahi, in her view, has failed to deliver basic services.

“Leadership is not about glittering projects erected on shaky foundations; it is about systems that work, schools that function, hospitals that heal, pensions that pay, and workers who are treated with fairness. You failed at this,” Adichie said.

Adichie was also critical of Umahi’s time as governor of Ebonyi State.

She alleged that during his administration education declined, healthcare services deteriorated, pension payments were neglected and civil servants suffered poor welfare.

She described flagship projects like the Ebonyi Mall as “a graveyard of failed promises” and said the state airport remains “dormant three years after completion.”

Adichie concluded by warning that Umahi cannot deliver votes for the APC in the 2027 general elections if Obi runs again.

She said that the people remain “Obidient” and would not be swayed by concrete-heavy projects with little human impact.

“We will remind you, Senator Umahi, that in 2027 we remain Obidient,” she declared.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has firmly rejected claims circulating on international platforms and social media suggesting that terrorists in the country are committing systematic genocide against Christians.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, condemned the allegations as false, divisive, and harmful to national unity.

He emphasized that Nigeria’s security challenges are not rooted in religion and should not be framed as such.

“Portraying the security crisis as a targeted campaign against Christians is a misrepresentation of the facts,” Idris said.

He noted that terrorists attack Nigerians regardless of religious affiliation, affecting both Muslims and Christians, as well as non-religious individuals.

He explained that these violent actors are primarily driven by extremist ideologies rather than religious motivations.

Between May 2023 and February 2025, Nigeria’s security agencies neutralized over 13,500 terrorists and criminals, rescued nearly 10,000 hostages, captured top leaders of terrorist groups such as Ansaru and achieved over 700 convictions in Boko Haram-related prosecutions.

Idris also highlighted Nigeria’s inclusive leadership, noting that Christian leaders currently head both the Armed Forces and the Police.

He dismissed any narrative of Christian marginalization, citing international recognition of Nigeria’s interfaith harmony, including the 2025 Commonwealth Peace Prize awarded to Nigerian Christian and Muslim leaders for their peacebuilding efforts.

The Minister urged the international community and media outlets to verify facts, avoid sensational reporting and support Nigeria’s anti-terrorism initiatives instead of spreading narratives that fuel division.

“We call for responsible reporting and a commitment to truth,” he said.