The Federal Government has advised Nigerians to seek permission from the National Orientation Agency (NOA) before using the national anthem to avoid misinterpretation.
In a statement on Wednesday, NOA’s Director General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the move is part of efforts to safeguard national symbols from misuse.
He further announced that the agency will hold press conferences across all states to launch a sensitization campaign on its new policies. However, no specific guidelines were provided on the contexts where permission should be sought to sing the anthem or use its lyrics.
The DG also clarified that the correct shade of green on the Nigerian flag is Emerald 2.0. He highlighted key reforms, including establishing audio-visual studios, launching an optimized NOA website featuring an AI assistant, and recent policy approvals from the Federal Executive Council (FEC), all supported by President Bola Tinubu.
Issa-Onilu said previous administrations focused on infrastructure but overlooked the importance of value orientation, which led to the decline of social structures like the Boys’ Scouts and WAI Brigade. The current administration, however, is addressing this gap by institutionalizing value-based initiatives.
A new initiative, the Citizen Value Brigade (CVB), will target children across the country, aiming to instill Nigerian values and foster homegrown heroes. The program will begin with 1,000 children per state and the FCT.
Additionally, the NOA emphasized the need for local content creation, particularly in cartoons, to counter foreign influences on young Nigerians.
Issa-Onilu reiterated that both leaders and citizens are responsible for national progress, citing the Nigerian Promise—a principle of equality and meritocracy guaranteed to all Nigerians.
The statement also noted President Tinubu’s recent decision to sign into law the bill reverting to Nigeria’s old national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” which was originally adopted in 1959 before being replaced in 1978.
