The Federal Government of Nigeria has directed Nigerians to obtain permission before using the national anthem, in a move aimed at preventing misuse and misrepresentation. This was announced by Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.
“As custodians of Nigeria’s national symbols, the NOA is tasked with preventing all forms of misuse. The DG emphasised that permission must be sought from the Agency before using the National Anthem to avoid misrepresentation,” the statement said.
While the directive did not specify the exact contexts in which permission is required, Issa-Onilu assured the public that press conferences would be held across the country to clarify the new policy and ensure proper sensitisation.
The NOA also took the opportunity to highlight other national symbols, including the Nigerian flag, which Issa-Onilu noted should strictly feature Emerald 2.0 green. He also mentioned the agency’s recent achievements, including the launch of audio-visual studios, an optimised website, and the approval of new institutional policies, all with the support of President Bola Tinubu.
Reflecting on past administrations, Issa-Onilu explained that infrastructure was prioritized over value orientation, leading to the decline of social intervention structures like the Boys’ Scouts, Girls’ Brigade, and even the NOA. He added that the current administration is addressing these oversights with initiatives like the Citizen Value Brigade (CVB), aimed at instilling Nigerian values in children.
“Don’t allow your children to search for heroes elsewhere, especially during their formative years,” Issa-Onilu advised, stressing the importance of creating local content to counter the influence of foreign values.
The announcement also marked the return of Nigeria’s old national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” written by Lillian Jean Williams in 1959, which President Tinubu re-adopted on the first anniversary of his presidency.
