The Federal Government has called on Nigerians to obtain formal approval before using the national anthem, to prevent potential misuse or misinterpretation. The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, made this announcement in a statement issued on Wednesday.
As the custodians of Nigeria’s national symbols, Issa-Onilu emphasized that the NOA is responsible for preventing all forms of misuse of these symbols. He added that Nigerians must seek permission from the agency before using the anthem or its lyrics to ensure proper representation. Sensitization campaigns will soon be held nationwide to clarify the new policies and guidelines surrounding national symbols.
Issa-Onilu also addressed concerns regarding the Nigerian flag, confirming that the official colours remain green, white, and green, with the specific shade of green being Emerald 2.0. He expressed regret that previous administrations had neglected value orientation initiatives, contributing to the decline of organizations like the Boys’ Scouts, Girls’ Brigade, WAI Brigade, and the NOA itself.
However, Issa-Onilu commended President Bola Tinubu for addressing this gap. As part of his efforts, the President recently signed into law a bill restoring Nigeria’s old national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” originally written in 1959 but replaced by a military government in 1978.
