As Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged the Federal Government to make lower food, transport and energy costs a measurable priority, and called for a new phase in which the promise of prosperity translates into tangible improvements in the lives of citizens.

The association noted that Nigerians, who had endured years of economic pressure, deserve to begin seeing meaningful relief in their daily lives.

In a message yesterday in Abuja, CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, called for a shift from an era of economic reforms to an era of prosperity, stressing that the true test of progress is not in statistics alone but in whether families could afford food, whether young people could find decent work or communities could live in safety, and whether every child had a fair opportunity to build a future.

Okoh emphasised the need to ensure that social protection reached those who needed it the most, adding that support for vulnerable families, education, healthcare and affordable credit should be strengthened, transparently administered and protected from diversion.

He said: “Prosperity that does not reach the ordinary Nigerian home remains incomplete.

Security must receive equal attention. There can be no meaningful prosperity where citizens cannot farm, trade, travel or sleep peacefully because of fear. We urge sustained action to protect lives, secure communities and restore confidence across the country”.

SIMILARLY, the General Overseer of The Foursquare Gospel Church, Rev. Sam Aboyeji, has urged the Nigerian government to prioritise the poorest citizens in its development policies, saying the welfare of the most vulnerable should be the true measure of the nation’s progress.

Aboyeji gave the advice yesterday at the 66th Nigeria Independence celebration, tagged Foursquare Gospel Church 2026 Refreshing Dew, which took place at the Foursquare International Conference Centre, Orisunbare, Idimu, Lagos.

Aboyeji, who spoke on the state of the country, said recent economic reforms had made life more difficult for many Nigerians, urging the government to intensify measures aimed at reducing the cost of transportation, food and other necessities.

The cleric commended efforts by officials to introduce gas-powered and electric buses as part of measures to reduce transportation costs, noting that lower transport fares could also help bring down food prices.

He lamented a situation where farmers and traders were forced to leave farm produce, including tomatoes, unsold because of the high cost of transporting them to major markets.

On the future of Nigeria, Aboyeji urged citizens not to lose hope, expressing optimism that the country would eventually realise its potential.