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Nigerians Celebrate Independence In New York With Parade, Carnival

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Nigerians Celebrate Independence In New York With Parade

Nigerians Celebrate Independence In New York With Parade, Carnival

Nigerians celebrate independence in New York with parade, carnival. She praised the resilience of the Nigerian community and appealed for more sponsorship and support.

Nigerians across the United States, on Saturday, turned New York into a sea of colour, music, and patriotism as they celebrated the 2025 Nigeria Independence Day parade and carnival.

The event brought together thousands of Nigerians and friends of Nigeria from across the U.S. and beyond.
The parade procession, which stretched from East 38th Street to East 24th Street along Madison Avenue, shut down the busy midtown corridor to traffic.

It was led by the Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN), in collaboration with the Consulate General of Nigeria in New York and other partner organisations.

Uniformed contingents from the New York Police Department, the New York City Department of Correction and other diaspora groups marched alongside Nigerian cultural associations, professional bodies, religious organisations and youth groups.

The vibrant floats, traditional attire and dance troupes drew cheers from spectators lining the streets.

Among the dignitaries in attendance were the Consul General of Nigeria in New York, Abubakar Jidda; UN deputy secretary-general, Amina Mohammed; and the acting Ambassador of Nigeria to the U.S., Samson Itegboje.

Others included Syndoph Endoni, Chargé d’Affaires at Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the UN; Ngozi Adeleke, wife of the Osun governor; and Nicholas Ella, a former permanent secretary in the ministry of petroleum resources.

Diplomats and city officials also joined the parade from 38th Street down to 24th Street in the heart of Manhattan – areas that were closed to vehicular traffic to accommodate the celebration.

Following the parade, the event transitioned into a full carnival at Madison Square Park, featuring electrifying musical performances and cultural displays, including those by Chinese dance troupes.

Popular Nigerian artiste Bella Shmurda headlined the entertainment, thrilling the youthful crowd and energising the festival atmosphere.

In his remarks, Mr Jidda congratulated Nigerians in the diaspora and commended the organisers for sustaining the parade and carnival annually since 1991 without fail.

“Nigeria remains a great nation, and 65 years of independence is worth celebrating in spite of its challenges,” Mr Jidda said.

“Our people are our strength, and Nigerians have been a blessing to the world, particularly here in the United States, where our human resources continue to excel.

In addition to its cultural and entertainment value, the parade strengthens Nigeria’s image, fosters U.S.-Nigeria ties and promotes the positive contributions of Nigerians in the diaspora.”

Mr Jidda noted that Nigeria remains the only African nation that hosts a full-scale independence day parade and carnival in New York City — a tradition that has positioned Nigerians as a visible and influential diaspora community.

The president of OAN, Olutomi Aregbesola, also underscored Nigeria’s strategic relevance on the global stage.

“This parade is more than a celebration; it is a statement of who we are as Nigerians,” she said.

“Our culture, our resilience and our achievements are worth celebrating and showcasing to the world.”

Chairman of the parade committee, Olayinka Dan-Salami, praised the resilience of the Nigerian community and appealed for more sponsorship and support.

Nigerians Celebrate Independence In New York With Parade

Nigerians Celebrate Independence In New York With Parade

“Nigerians have shown year after year that we are committed to lifting this parade higher,” he said.
“With more support and sponsorship from well-meaning Nigerians and friends of Nigeria, we can take this celebration to the next level.”

Other speakers commended the organisers for growing the event into the largest African national celebration of its kind outside the continent, promoting Nigeria’s image and strengthening ties with U.S. communities and institutions.

Attendees enjoyed a variety of Afrobeat music, fashion exhibitions, cultural performances, and Nigerian and African cuisine throughout the day.

Adeola Adesina, a first-time attendee, described the celebration as “a home away from home” and a powerful symbol of unity and pride.
The Nigerian flag was earlier hoisted at Bowling Green, the financial centre of the world.

Crime

Navy Dismantles Illegal Refining Capacity, Destroys Site With 3 Storage Tanks in Rivers

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Troops Destroy 56 Illegal Refining Sites

Navy Dismantles Illegal Refining Capacity, Destroys Site With 3 Storage Tanks in Rivers

The Nigerian Navy, through FOB BONNY, has dismantled an illegal refining site discovered in Promise Land Community along Nanabie Creek, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, further denying criminal operators the infrastructure required to process stolen crude oil.
Eereporter.com

The site was discovered on 30 September 2026 following credible intelligence and comprised one large cooking pot and 3 large storage tanks intended for illegal refining activities. On 2 October 2026, the Commanding Officer, FOB BONNY, Captain SMC Umeh, led a team to the location, where the illegal refining site and associated equipment were destroyed in accordance with established regulations.

The intervention represents a further disruption of illegal refining capacity within the Bonny area, particularly by removing infrastructure that could be used to process and store stolen crude oil. It also follows recent operations by FOB BONNY under Operation DELTA SENTINEL that uncovered substantial volumes of suspected stolen crude oil and associated illegal refining infrastructure within its Area of Operations

Troops Destroy 56 Illegal Refining Sites

Oil

The Nigerian Navy has continued to strengthen surveillance and monitoring across the area to prevent the establishment or reactivation of illegal refining sites and deny criminal operators the infrastructure required to sustain crude oil theft and related activities.

ABIODUN FOLORUNSHO

Navy Captain

Director Naval Information

Nigerian Navy
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Economy

NNPC Ltd Offers N66 Fuel Discount Throughout the Nation

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NNPC

NNPC Ltd Offers N66 Fuel Discount Throughout the Nation

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has unveiled a nationwide ₦66 fuel discount promotion for customers using the NNPC Fuel App.
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In a post obtained from its X handle on Friday, the promotion, which runs from October 1 to 7, is being held across NNPC stations nationwide as part of activities marking the period.

“The ₦66 Discount Promo is ongoing & the excitement is already happening across our stations nationwide!

“All over Nigeria, our customers are getting in on the action & there’s still time for you to benefit!

The promo runs from 1–7 October on the NNPC Fuel App,” the post read.

NNPC said customers across the country have already begun participating in the promotion, with highlights from the first day showing activities at several stations.

“Keep fueling, keep transacting and keep your eyes on our pages,” the post read.

NNPC

NNPC

NNPC also shared moments from the first day of the promotion and said more pictures and activities from stations across the country would be released.

The company urged customers not to miss the opportunity to participate before the promotion ends on October 7.

The ₦66 discount offer is available through the NNPC Fuel App during the stated promotional period.
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Economy

President Tinubu Tells EFCC: You Have Justified my Confidence in You

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EFCC Arraigns Gidado Ibrahim

President Tinubu Tells EFCC: You Have Justified my Confidence in You

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has applauded the efforts and performance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in tackling economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption in the country, stressing that it has justified the confidence reposed on it.
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He gave this commendation on Friday, October 2, 2026 in Awka, Anambra State at the commissioning of a new Zonal Directorate of the EFCC. The President pointed out that there are evidential proofs of the success of the Commission in convictions, recoveries and other landmark achievements

Represented by Honourable Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker, House of Representatives, Tinubu noted that “supporting the EFCC is not particularly difficult. The agency has consistently demonstrated that the confidence reposed on it is well founded. Without mincing words, the evidential proof of the EFCC’s success speaks loudly in convictions secured, assets and properties recovered”

He affirmed that the strides of the Commission are in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration.

“When we came in three years ago, I highlighted nine major focal areas of my administration. Two of which are reforming the economy for sustained and inclusive growth and promotion of good governance. The anti-graft agency compliments this agenda as they are focused on accountability and transparency and appropriate deployment of resources”, he said.

At the commissioning, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede restated the commitment of the Commission to preventive frameworks in tackling economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption in the country.

According to him, the Commission will continue its focus on making corrupt practices difficult by blocking avenues through which they may happen.

“This new Directorate will not only enforce the law professionally and courageously, it will be high on corruption prevention. It will engage government institutions, businesses, financial institutions, professional bodies, schools, markets, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, religious bodies and communities. It will educate stakeholders, build relationships and mobilise the people to own the fight against all forms of corrupt practices in the zone”, he said

He assured Nigerians that the EFCC would not relent in the pursuit of its mandate, recalling the achievements of the Commission in the last 34 months and describing them as impressive progress.

“The pursuit of our mandate has been our dominant engagement and in the past few years, we have made impressive progress. Between October 2023 and July 2026, the Commission received 49, 673 petitions, investigated 39, 615 cases, filed 14, 476 cases in court and secured 10, 872 convictions. This gives a conviction-to-filing ratio of 75.1 percent. In the first half of 2026 alone, we recorded 1, 370 convictions from 1, 889 filings. The Commission also recorded recoveries of N1, 233, 612, 040, 411. 11, $684, 478, 457. 32, £373, 905. 78, €9, 343, 803. 66 inn addition to recoveries in other currencies”, he said.

He noted that at the institutional level, the Commission has made radical reforms that have been yielding optimal results as there are consequential improvements in the agency’s processes and procedures, which partly explains the impacts the EFCC has made and will continue to make in all the matrices of law enforcement.

“Reforms that have strengthened the Commission during the period include new guidelines on arrest and bail, a review of sting operations, the establishment of the Department of Fraud Risk Assessment and Control, the Security Department, the Immigration and Visa Section and the Cybercrime Rapid Response Centre”, he said.

While charging Ndi Anambra on whistleblowing, the anti-graft czar said that the Commission has established channels through which members of the public can submit petitions and provide information. He noted that the Commission’s Eagle Eye App allows citizens to provide details of suspected wrongdoing and makes the provision of an informant’s personal details optional. “However, whistleblowing must be responsible and based on facts. It must not become an instrument for settling scores”, he said.

EFCC Arraigns Gidado Ibrahim

EFCC

He thereafter said that Anambra and Imo States deserve effective and responsive institutional presence as they are renowned for enterprise, innovation, commerce and an extraordinary culture of industry, adding that these legitimate activities must be protected from fraud, cybercrime, money laundering, investment fraud, diversion of public resources and other forms of economic and financial crimes. “Therefore, our coming to Awka is beyond geographical expansion. It is about taking the mandate of the EFCC closer to the people and closer to the economic activities we are meant to protect”, he said.

In their remarks, His Excellencies, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State and Senator Hope Uzodinma, Governor of Imo State said that they were pleased with the activities and management of the EFCC under the leadership of Olukoyede. They pledged their support to the Commission as it opened a new Zonal Directorate in their domain.

The commissioning of the new Directorate witnessed massive turn out of distinguished Nigerians, including members of the National Assembly, civil society organisations, community leaders, students, media among others.
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