Several commercial banks in Nigeria will temporarily close their physical branches on Thursday, October 1, 2026, as the country celebrates its 66th Independence Anniversary.
Banks including Access Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Zenith Bank are among those expected to suspend in-branch services for the public holiday.
The federal government has designated October 1 as a public holiday, while the Nigerian Exchange Group’s 2026 trading calendar also identifies the date as a non-trading day.
Stanbic IBTC Announces Branch Closure
Stanbic IBTC notified its customers that its branches would not open on Thursday in recognition of the Independence Day celebration.
The bank said:
“Please note that our branches will be closed on Thursday, 01 October 2026, in observance of the Independence Day holiday.”
It added:
“We will be back to serve you as usual on Friday.”
Customers were encouraged to continue carrying out transactions through alternative banking channels, including ATMs, @ease Wallet, internet banking, the mobile application and USSD services.
Optimus Bank Joins the Closure
Optimus Bank also informed its customers that its physical banking halls would be unavailable on the public holiday.
The bank stated:
“Please note that our banking halls will be closed on Thursday, October 1st, 2026, in observance of Independence Day.”
Customers who need banking services during the holiday can therefore make use of the digital and self-service options provided by their respective banks.
Nigeria Marks 66 Years of Independence
The closure comes as Nigerians prepare to commemorate the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
The federal government, through the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, extended its Independence Day message to Nigerians both within the country and abroad.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Magdalene Ajani, conveyed the message through the ministry’s official X account on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
This year’s anniversary is being observed under the theme, “From Reforms to Stability: Consolidating Nigeria’s Renewed Hope for Shared Prosperity.”
Minister Calls for Unity
Tunji-Ojo urged Nigerians to reflect on the values of patriotism, unity, peaceful coexistence and respect as the country celebrates another year of independence.
He said:
“As we celebrate 66 years of our independence, we should always remember that there is hope for our country and our diversity is our strength, and our collective determination remains the foundation upon which a stronger and more prosperous nation will be built.”
The minister also encouraged citizens to draw lessons from Nigeria’s founding generation and contribute towards creating a country that future generations can inherit with pride.
