The Federal Government has declared October 5 as the National Day for Senior Citizens in Nigeria.

President Muhammadu Buhari made the declaration at the First Presidential Summit on Ageing and Awards ceremony in Abuja.

In his keynote address, the President represented by the Minister of Interior Affairs Mr Rauf Aregbesola stated that 4.7% of Nigeria’s population which comes to over 9 million were Senior Citizens who he observed have not been treated fairly.

“I, President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law, the National Senior Citizen’s Centre Act 2017 to cater for the needs of senior citizens. The Federal Government of Nigeria is committed to effectively mobilising capital resources needed to develop the appropriate mechanism that will be geared towards promoting and providing unhindered access to social services”.

“As a further demonstration of our support for senior citizens, the 5th of October every year will be celebrated as National Day for Senior Citizens in Nigeria”, he added.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq appealed to the President for take-off funds for the National Senior Citizens’ Centre.