As Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary, the Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO) Media Fronts has congratulated Nigerians at home and abroad, celebrating the resilience, courage and enduring faith of our people in the Nigerian project.
The journey of the last 66 years has undoubtedly been turbulent and, at different periods, chaotic. The nation has passed through 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 compelling signs on the horizon that the future can be steadier, stronger and more prosperous for our country.
The AMBO Media Fronts believes that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu represents an assurance that when a government is resolute and determined to lift its people out of poverty, rebuild the economy and leave a legacy of prosperity for the incoming generation, the results of such determination will 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 fuel subsidy, for instance, has contributed to higher living costs and transportation expenses. However, it has also significantly altered the revenue profile of the federation, creating substantially more resources for the three tiers of government.
In Osun State, the impact of the Renewed Hope Agenda is becoming increasingly visible, even though the effects of some economic policies continue to weigh heavily on the people. For instance, the Federation Allocation to Osun State for July was in the region of ₦17 billion, compared with about ₦4 billion before the removal of fuel subsidy in 2023. This represents an increase of approximately 350 per cent.
Ordinarily, such a substantial increase in available public resources should translate into greater succour for the people through improved education, healthcare, social security services, infrastructure and a more efficient transportation system, provided the resources are properly and transparently channelled.
The Federal Government has also taken specific 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, to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal on citizens. It is believed that a solid and effective public transportation system built around these buses would not only provide cheaper transportation for the people of Osun but could also encourage commercial transport operators to gradually adopt the CNG regime for their vehicles.
The Federal Government also refunded the state government arrears of personnel taxes due from federal government staff working in Osun State. The repayment, put at around ₦8 billion, provided additional resources to the state government for the implementation of 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 over ₦300 billion. These 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, which, when completed, will further improve connectivity, facilitate the movement of people and goods and open up new economic opportunities for communities across Osun State.
These investments are important 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 the 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 in the last three years. These interventions include road construction, renovation of school buildings and facilities, installation of solar-powered street lights and other community-based projects.
Such projects bring the presence of the Federal Government directly to communities and have contributed 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 running into ₦12 billion since 2023.
The NELFUND student loan scheme has equally expanded access to financial support for over 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 reforms are not limited to Abuja but 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. This intervention is part of the Tinubu-led government effort to improve staff welfare and strengthen institutional development. The Federal Housing Authority is equally making frantic efforts in ensuring Osun people benefit adequately in the federal government’s plan to provide 154,800 housing units to Nigerian citizens.
This year’s October 1 celebration, therefore, is not one 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 equally recognise tangible interventions being undertaken by the Federal Government across Nigeria and, specifically, in Osun State.
The journey to 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 the way of Nigerians, including the people of Osun State.
On behalf of our Principal and APC Governorship Candidate in the 2026 Election in Osun, 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
