President Bola Tinubu says he had a “good sleep and nice breakfast” after canceling the Nigeria 65th Independence Day parade.

Speaking at the unveiling of the renovated Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts on Wednesday, Mr Tinubu said the day had been well spent.

“Happy 65th Independence Anniversary. This has broken the monotony of military march-past, parade, and everything,” the president said. “By cancelling this programme, I was able to have a good sleep, have a nice breakfast, and wait for this evening. And the evening is well spent.”

Mr Tinubu’s government had announced the cancellation of the military parade, which was earlier scheduled to mark the occasion.

Expressing satisfaction with renaming the National Arts Theatre in Lagos after Mr Soyinka, he described the Nobel laureate as one of the greatest assets to the country and the world as a whole.

“It couldn’t have been anything else, and I know definitely you (Mr Soyinka) will not disobey this president. I said it has to be Wole Soyinka Centre,” Mr Tinubu said.