As Nigeria commemorates its 66th Independence Anniversary, the Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO) Media Fronts extends warm greetings and congratulations to Nigerians at home and across the world, celebrating the resilience, courage and unwavering belief of the Nigerian people in the nation’s future and the Nigerian project.
The journey of the past 66 years has undoubtedly been turbulent and, at different periods, chaotic. The nation has experienced political upheavals, economic difficulties, insecurity, military interventions and other challenges that have tested our collective resolve. Yet, through all these difficulties, Nigeria has survived and continued to evolve.
Today, there are signs on the horizon that the future can be steadier, stronger and more prosperous for the country.
Follow PenTalk News
Get breaking news, important updates and the latest stories directly on your phone.
The AMBO Media Fronts believes that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu represents an assurance that when a government is determined to lift its people out of poverty, rebuild the economy and create a legacy of prosperity for future generations, the impact of such efforts can ultimately be reflected in the wellbeing of citizens, notwithstanding the difficulties that may accompany necessary reforms.
We acknowledge that some of the economic policies of the Federal Government have imposed significant hardships on citizens. The removal of the fuel subsidy, for instance, has contributed to higher living and transportation costs. At the same time, the policy has significantly altered the revenue profile of the federation, creating additional resources for the three tiers of government.
In Osun State, the impact of the Renewed Hope Agenda is becoming increasingly visible, even as some of the economic challenges continue to weigh heavily on citizens.
For instance, the Federation Allocation to Osun State for July was put at about ₦17 billion, compared with approximately ₦4 billion before the removal of the fuel subsidy in 2023. This represents an increase of about 350 per cent.
Ordinarily, such a substantial increase in available public resources should translate into greater relief for citizens through improved education, healthcare, social services, infrastructure and more efficient transportation, provided the funds are properly and transparently utilised.
The Federal Government has also taken steps to cushion the effects of the reforms on Nigerians in Osun State. In 2023, the Federal Government provided palliatives worth ₦15 billion to Osun State, including a ₦2 billion grant for the purchase of CNG buses, as part of efforts to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.
An effective public transportation system built around these buses could provide more affordable transportation for residents while encouraging commercial transport operators to gradually adopt compressed natural gas (CNG) for their vehicles.
The Federal Government also refunded arrears of personnel taxes due to the state from federal government employees working in Osun State. The repayment, estimated at about ₦8 billion, provided additional resources for the state government to implement its programmes.
The Tinubu-led Federal Government is also undertaking major road projects in Osun State, with the projects cited at a combined value of more than ₦300 billion. They include the Osogbo–Iwo–Ibadan Road, the reconstruction of the Gbongan–Osogbo Road and the Ilesa–Ife–Ibadan corridor.
The Federal Government has also approved the construction of the Ilobu–Ogbomoso Road. When completed, the project is expected to improve connectivity, facilitate the movement of people and goods, and create new economic opportunities for communities across Osun State.
These investments are significant because road infrastructure is not merely about transportation. Good roads connect farmers to markets, businesses to consumers, workers to places of employment and communities to economic opportunities.
The Tinubu administration has also, through the implementation of Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIPs), popularly known as constituency projects, funded projects facilitated by federal legislators from Osun State to the tune of approximately ₦10 billion over the past three years.
The interventions include road construction, renovation of school buildings and facilities, installation of solar-powered streetlights and other community-based projects.
Such projects bring government interventions closer to communities and can contribute to improving basic infrastructure and the living conditions of beneficiaries.
The Federal Government, through institutions such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), has also supported public universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and basic education infrastructure in Osun State with interventions reportedly running into about ₦12 billion since 2023.
The NELFUND student loan scheme has equally expanded access to financial support for more than 50,000 Osun students in tertiary institutions, including students in the 11 technical colleges owned by the state.
These interventions demonstrate that the Federal Government’s education policies are being implemented beyond Abuja and are reaching institutions and students across the states.
In the area of housing, the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has completed and handed over 24 housing units constructed under the National Housing Programme to the University of Ilesa.
The intervention is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to improve staff welfare and support institutional development. The Federal Housing Authority is also making efforts to ensure that people in Osun State benefit from the Federal Government’s plan to provide 154,800 housing units to Nigerians.
This year’s October 1 celebration, therefore, is not being marked in a vacuum. It provides an opportunity to reflect on the challenges of the past 66 years, acknowledge the difficulties confronting citizens today and recognise ongoing interventions by the Federal Government across Nigeria and, specifically, in Osun State.
The journey towards national prosperity is never without challenges. What matters is the ability of leadership to remain focused, make difficult decisions, correct mistakes where necessary and ensure that the gains of reform ultimately translate into better lives for the people.
The AMBO Media Fronts therefore calls on Nigerians to remain hopeful and committed to the Nigerian project. We believe that with sustained reforms, prudent management of resources, greater accountability and continued investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, industry and human capital, Nigeria can realise its enormous potential.
We equally believe that as citizens continue to pray for and support the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, more dividends of democracy and development will come to Nigerians, including the people of Osun State.
On behalf of our Principal and APC Governorship Candidate in the 2026 Osun State election, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), we once again felicitate with the people of Osun State and Nigerians across the world on the occasion of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
