The Nigerian Federal Government has introduced a new policy requiring citizens to obtain formal approval before using the national anthem, to avoid potential misuse or misinterpretation.
A statement by the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, said seeking permission was necessary to avoid misinterpretation.
He also said that press conferences will be held across all states to initiate the sensitisation campaign on the agency’s new policies.
“As custodians of Nigeria’s national symbols, the NOA is tasked with preventing all forms of misuse. Permission must be sought from the agency to avoid misrepresentation,” the statement read in part.
The NOA boss also addressed the issue of the Nigerian flag, stressing that its official colours remain green, white, and green, with the specific shade of green being Emerald 2.0.
The DG lamented that past administrations focused too heavily on infrastructure development while neglecting value orientation, which led to the decline of social intervention structures like the Boys’ Scouts, Girls’ Brigade, WAI Brigade, and even the National Orientation Agency itself.
He credited President Bola Tinubu for recognising this gap and supporting the revival of value-based initiatives.
To counter foreign influences on young Nigerians, Issa-Onilu also emphasised the need for local cartoon content that aligns with Nigerian values.
