The Federal Government has advised Nigerians to seek official permission before using the national anthem in any capacity. This announcement was made by the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, in a statement released on Wednesday.
According to the NOA, the move is aimed at preventing potential misinterpretation or misuse of Nigeria’s national symbols, including the anthem. “As custodians of Nigeria’s national symbols, the NOA is tasked with preventing all forms of misuse. Permission must be sought from the Agency before using the National Anthem to avoid misrepresentation,” the statement read.
The Director General did not specify the exact contexts in which permission would be required but emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of national symbols.
Issa-Onilu also highlighted key achievements under his leadership, including the revitalization of the NOA through the establishment of audio-visual studios, the launch of an optimised website featuring an AI assistant, and new policies approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) with the support of President Bola Tinubu.
Additionally, the DG noted that past administrations had neglected value orientation, leading to the decline of social institutions like the Boys’ Scouts, Girls’ Brigade, and the WAI Brigade. He stated that efforts are underway to revive such structures alongside the NOA’s renewed focus on promoting national values.
