The federal government has called on Nigerians to seek formal approval before using the national anthem to prevent potential misuse or misinterpretation.
Lanre Issa-Onilu, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), made this known in a statement released on Wednesday. He emphasized the need to obtain permission from the agency prior to using the anthem or its lyrics to avoid any misrepresentation.
“As custodians of Nigeria’s national symbols, the NOA is responsible for preventing all forms of misuse. Permission must be sought to avoid misinterpretation,” the statement read.
Issa-Onilu also revealed that sensitization campaigns would soon be launched across Nigeria’s 36 states to clarify the agency’s updated policies and guidelines. He reiterated that the official colors of the national flag remain green, white, and green, specifying the correct shade of green.
Highlighting the ongoing transformation within the NOA, Issa-Onilu mentioned several notable achievements. These include the creation of audio-visual studios, the launch of an upgraded NOA website with an AI-powered assistant, and the recent approval of institutional policies by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
He also expressed concern over past administrations’ focus on infrastructure at the expense of value orientation, which led to the decline of social intervention programs like the Boys’ Scouts, Girls’ Brigade, WAI Brigade, and the National Orientation Agency itself.
Additionally, the President recently signed a bill reinstating Nigeria’s former national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” on the first anniversary of his administration. Originally written by Lillian Jean Williams and composed by Frances Berda in 1959, this anthem was replaced by a military regime in 1978 but has now been restored.
