Nigerians Must Get Approval to Use National Anthem — FG

The Federal Government has called on Nigerians to seek permission before using the national anthem, according to a statement released by Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), on Wednesday.

The move is part of efforts to prevent the misuse and misinterpretation of the anthem, a symbol of national pride.

Issa-Onilu announced that the NOA will hold press conferences across all states to kick-start a nationwide sensitization campaign on the agency’s new policies.

He emphasized the need for individuals and organizations to obtain permission from the NOA before using the national anthem to avoid potential misrepresentation.

“As custodians of Nigeria’s national symbols, the NOA is tasked with preventing all forms of misuse. Permission must be sought before using the national anthem to maintain its dignity,” the statement read.

The DG also clarified that the Nigerian flag remains green, white, and green, with the correct shade of green being Emerald 2.0, addressing some confusion about the national flag’s colours.

Issa-Onilu highlighted the agency’s achievements under his leadership, including the establishment of audio-visual studios, an optimized NOA website featuring an AI voice and chat assistant, and the approval of several institutionalization policies by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), supported by President Bola Tinubu.

He pointed out that past administrations neglected value orientation in favour of infrastructure development, leading to the decline of social programs like the Boys’ Scouts, Girls’ Brigade, WAI Brigade, and even the NOA itself.

However, he said the current administration recognizes the importance of value orientation, evident in the recent FEC approvals focusing on the National Identity Project.

As part of this effort, Issa-Onilu introduced the Citizen Value Brigade (CVB), a new initiative aimed at instilling Nigerian values in children. Starting with 1,000 children per state and the FCT, the CVB will promote homegrown heroes for future generations. The DG also called for the creation of local cartoon content to counter foreign influences on young Nigerians.

He reiterated that both leaders and citizens share equal responsibility in national progress. The NOA’s National Values Charter, particularly its principles of Equality and Meritocracy, guarantees that all Nigerians, whether leaders or citizens, must actively participate in the nation’s development.

In addition, President Tinubu recently signed a bill re-adopting Nigeria’s original national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” written by Lillian Jean Williams in 1959 and composed by Frances Berda, which had been replaced by a military government in 1978.