Independence Day: Tinubu’s govt skips military parade for 2nd year amid coup scare

For the second consecutive year, the Nigerian government has opted to skip the traditional military parade to mark the country’s Independence Day, a decision that comes amid lingering concerns over national security and the fallout from an alleged coup plot.

President Bola Tinubu, who is currently observing the anniversary period in Lagos, will instead deliver a nationwide broadcast to mark the 66th Independence anniversary. This marks the second year in a row that the President has chosen to observe the occasion in the commercial capital rather than the federal capital, Abuja.

The Federal Government has already announced that the President’s Independence Day broadcast will form part of the activities for the 66th anniversary, with other events including a public lecture scheduled for September 30.

The decision to forgo the military parade mirrors the events of 2025, when the government abruptly cancelled the 65th Independence Anniversary parade. At that time, officials cited security threats, though the move was widely linked to reports of a planned military coup.

In the months following the 2025 cancellation, the military confirmed that several officers were being tried before a military court for their alleged roles in attempting to oust the government. The ongoing legal proceedings against military personnel and civilian collaborators have kept the issue of the alleged coup plot at the forefront of national discourse.

As the nation marks its 66th year of independence, attention remains focused on the President’s upcoming address and the broader implications of the heightened security posture that has characterized the last two years of his administration.