The Federal Government has called on Nigerians to seek permission before using the national anthem to prevent any misinterpretation. This was announced by the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, in a statement on Wednesday.
The NOA, tasked with safeguarding national symbols, emphasized that unauthorized use of the anthem could lead to misrepresentation, prompting the need for formal approval.
Press conferences will be held across all states to educate citizens on the new policies, although specifics on when permission must be sought remain unclear. Issa-Onilu also highlighted the importance of correctly displaying the national flag, emphasizing that the proper shade of green is Emerald 2.0.
Further, the NOA’s Director General lauded President Bola Tinubu’s support for value orientation, noting recent Federal Executive Council approvals for new institutional policies, which include the introduction of the Citizen Value Brigade (CVB). This initiative aims to instill Nigerian values in young people by cultivating homegrown heroes.
Issa-Onilu concluded by urging all Nigerians to uphold the principles of the National Values Charter, emphasizing that both leaders and citizens share responsibility for the nation’s progress.
In a significant development, President Tinubu also signed a bill to revert to Nigeria’s former national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” originally composed in 1959 but replaced in 1978 by a military government. The return to this historic anthem marks a renewed effort to honor Nigeria’s heritage.
