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62nd Independence Anniversary: I Share The Pains Nigerians Are Going Through – Buhari
As Nigeria marks her 62nd Independence Anniversary, President Muhammadu Buhari has said he shared the pains of Nigerians over existing challenges still confronting the people.
He, however, scored his administration high in delivering most of the electoral promises he made to Nigerians upon election in 2015 and 2019.
The President who became sober said he remains eternally grateful to Nigerians for electing him to run the affairs of the country on their behalf, after several trials and failures, just as he regretted that this will be his last independence day speech as President.
Giving a profile of his stewardship in the last seven years, Buhari said his administration will not relent in de-escalating the security challenges that confronted Nigeria at the inception of his administration, ”newer forms alien to our country began to manifest especially in the areas of kidnappings, molestations/killings of innocent citizens, banditry, all of which are being addressed by our security forces, he said.
He said, ” I share the pains Nigerians are going through and I assure you that your resilience and patience would not be in vain as this administration continues to reposition as well as strengthen the security agencies to enable them to deal with all forms of security challenges”.
He revealed that at the inception of his administration in 2015, he provided the funding requirements of the security agencies which was also improved in his second tenure in 2019 to enable them to surmount security challenges.
”We will continue on this path until our efforts yield the desired results.
“I address you today, with a deep sense of gratitude to God and a high level of appreciation to all Nigerians whose tremendous goodwill gave me the opportunity to provide leadership for our great country at one of the trying times in her history.
“Conscious that today’s address would be my last on Independence Day as your President; I speak to the millions of Nigerians, who believed in me, propelled and stood by me in my quest to bequeath a country where all citizens have equal opportunities to achieve their lives desires in a peaceful atmosphere.
“I am honoured to say that my story in the annals of Nigeria’s history is no household secret. My various attempts, failures and eventual success in being elected as a Democratic President in 2015 were made possible by the majority of Nigerians.
“When you elected me, I readily acknowledged that the tasks before me were daunting but surmountable because of the growing national consensus that our chosen route to national development was democracy,” an emotion-laden Buhari stated.
He said his style of democracy was anchored on a clear understanding, application and the principles of separation of powers supported by a reformed public service that is more effective.
I then pledged to improve the economy, tackle corruption and fight insecurity and this was further strengthened by my commitment to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in ten years as the central plank of my second term in 2019.
To the Glory of God and His Grace as well as the commitment and passion displayed by many Nigerian supporters, we have made appreciable progress in these areas but are not yet at our destination.
James Faleke, a member of the House of Representatives and founder of the Tinubu Support Group (TSG), has officially picked up the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential nomination forms for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
The forms, which include the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms, were obtained on April 28, 2026, following a payment of ₦100 million. This move effectively kicks off the President’s campaign for a second term.
The APC National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Argungu, on Tuesday in Abuja, declared the process open and presented the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to Faleke, who also serves as the founder of the Tinubu Support Groups.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled the Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, February 6, 2027.
The commission also announced that party primaries, including the resolution of related disputes, will run from April 23, 2026, to May 30, 2026.
INEC further stated that campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on August 19, 2026, while those for governorship and state assembly elections will commence on September 9, 2026.
More details later…
The Nigerian Naira maintained a steady yet cautious position against the US Dollar as the market opened for trading today, Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
Financial analysts are observing localised fluctuations in liquidity across both the official Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) and the parallel market segments.
Official Market (NFEM) Activity
In the early trading hours of the official window, the Naira showed resilience, trading at approximately 1,360.19 NGN per 1 USD. This follows a trend of minor adjustments as the FMDQ Securities Exchange records ongoing transactions from institutional buyers and sellers. The rate has seen slight volatility since the market opened, moving from an initial 1,359.23 NGN to its current level as demand and supply forces seek a daily equilibrium.
The Central Bank of Nigeria continues to monitor the official window closely, ensuring that the transparency of the “willing buyer, willing seller” model supports price discovery while mitigating drastic shocks to the local currency.
Parallel Market Trends
The informal parallel market continues to operate at a premium, reflecting the immediate retail demand for the greenback. In major cities such as Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt, currency dealers are quoting the Dollar between 1,480 NGN and 1,495 NGN.
The gap between the NFEM and the parallel market remains a focal point for economic observers, as it often indicates the level of unmet demand in the official sectors. Traders in the parallel market suggest that small-scale importers and individual travelers are the primary drivers of the current activity in the informal sector this morning.
Factors Affecting Today’s Rate
Today’s market performance is being influenced by several key macroeconomic factors. Global oil prices remain a significant driver, providing the necessary foreign exchange reserves to support the Naira. Additionally, internal market liquidity is being shaped by the clearance of corporate foreign exchange backlogs and seasonal demand for international payments.
As the day progresses, participants expect the market to remain within the current range unless there is a significant intervention or a shift in global market sentiment. Stakeholders are advised to keep track of the closing rates later today to gauge the definitive performance of the Naira for the midweek trading period.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has officially endorsed his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, as his preferred successor for the 2027 governorship election.
The announcement was made on Monday, April 27, 2026, during a meeting at the Lagos House, Marina, where Hamzat formally declared his intention to run.
In the past few weeks, Hamzat has received widespread endorsement from political and community leaders across the state during his various consultative visits.
Recall that the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, had expressed support for Hamzat’s governorship bid.
Also, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Senator representing Lagos East, Tokunbo Abiru; and former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and other stakeholders have endorsed Hamzat’s gubernatorial bid.
Details shortly…
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