By Ihechi Enyinnaya
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has dismissed as untrue reports insinuating that the Agency must give permision to citizens before they can use the National Anthem.
A statement by Paul Odenyi, Deputy Director Press, said the correct submissions of NOA’s Director-General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, during an interview with Radio Kwara is that NOA as the custodian of national symbols, will issue correct melodies of the National Anthem. He also advocated that those who produce national flags or use them for commercial advertisement purposes should obtain the correct versions from NOA.
As a matter of fact, all state offices of the Agency are currently undertaking programmes aimed at enlightening Nigerians on the lyrics of the reintroduced National Anthem.
For the avoidance of doubt, the new approvals given by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) prescribe that the first stanza of the National Anthem will be sung at all official government programmes, while the entire three stanzas will be used only at special events such as the Democracy Day, opening of parliament et cetera. The third stanza has been designated as national prayer.
In line with this mandate, NOA has released the correct and authentic lyrics of the National Anthem, reintroducing it as part of its initiative to promote the new National Anthem Act signed by the President.
The correct lyrics of the National Anthem are as follows:
Stanza 1
Nigeria, we hail thee
Our own dear native land
Though tribes and tongues may differ
In brotherhood, we stand
Nigerians all, are proud to serve
Our sovereign Motherland.
Stanza 2
Our flag shall be a symbol
That truth and justice reign
In peace or battle, honour’d,
And this we count as gain,
To hand on to our children
A banner without stain.
Stanza 3
O God of all creation
Grant this our one request.
Help us to build a nation
Where no man is oppressed
And so with peace and plenty
Nigeria may be blessed.
NOA therefore calls on all citizens to ignore such misleading reports and freely use the National Anthem, and simultaneously respect and honour the national symbols, which embody our nation’s aspirations and unity.