By Empress Ugo
The Federal Government has called on Nigerians to obtain permission before using the national anthem.
Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), emphasized the importance of this step to prevent misinterpretation. He announced that press conferences will be held nationwide to kick off a sensitization campaign regarding the agency’s new policies.
Issa-Onilu did not specify the contexts in which permission should be requested for singing or using the anthem’s lyrics. He stated: “As custodians of Nigeria’s national symbols, the NOA is responsible for preventing misuse. Permission must be sought from the agency to avoid misrepresentation,” according to the statement.
He also clarified that the Nigerian flag consists of green, white, and green, with the correct shade of green being Emerald 2.0.
Highlighting the agency’s improvements, he noted the establishment of audio-visual studios, the launch of an updated NOA website featuring the CLHEEAN-NOA Artificial Intelligence voice and chat assistant, and recent policy approvals from the Federal Executive Council (FEC), all supported by President Bola Tinubu.
Issa-Onilu pointed out that previous administrations prioritized infrastructure over value orientation, leading to the decline of important social intervention structures, including the Boys’ Scouts and Girls’ Brigade. He commended the current administration for recognizing this gap and supporting the agency.
He introduced the newly formed Citizen Value Brigade (CVB), advising parents to instill Nigerian values in their children rather than allowing them to look for heroes elsewhere. The initiative aims to nurture local heroes, starting with 1,000 children per state and the FCT.
He also stressed the need for creating local cartoon content to counter foreign influences on young Nigerians.
The Director General asserted that national progress depends on the collaboration of both leaders and citizens. He explained that the Nigerian Promise, a key component of the National Values Charter, upholds principles of Equality and Meritocracy for all citizens.
He warned that Nigeria’s advancement relies on active participation and adherence to these values.
On the first anniversary of his administration, President Tinubu signed into law the bill reinstating Nigeria’s former national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” originally written by Lillian Jean Williams in 1959 and composed by Frances Berda.