The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to obtain formal approval prior to using the national anthem to prevent potential misuse or misinterpretation.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), highlighted the necessity of seeking permission from the agency before using the anthem or its lyrics.
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“As custodians of Nigeria’s national symbols, the NOA is tasked with preventing all forms of misuse. Permission must be sought from the agency to avoid misrepresentation,” the statement read in part.
Issa-Onilu announced that sensitisation campaigns will be conducted across all 36 states to clarify the agency’s new policies and guidelines regarding the national anthem.
The NOA Director General also addressed the Nigerian flag, reaffirming that its official colours are green, white, and green, with the specific shade of green being Emerald 2.0.
He expressed concern that previous administrations focused predominantly on infrastructure development, neglecting value orientation. This oversight has contributed to the decline of social intervention structures such as the Boys’ Scouts, Girls’ Brigade, WAI Brigade, and even the National Orientation Agency.
Issa-Onilu credited President Bola Tinubu for recognizing this gap and supporting the revival of value-based initiatives.
On the first anniversary of his administration, the President signed a bill re-adopting Nigeria’s old national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.” This anthem, originally penned by Lillian Jean Williams and composed by Frances Berda in 1959, was dropped by a military government in 1978 but has now been restored.
