The Federal Government has called on Nigerians to obtain permission before using the national anthem in any form. In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 8, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), emphasized the need for this step to prevent potential misinterpretation or misuse of the national symbol.
Although the NOA chief did not specify the exact scenarios in which permission must be sought, he underlined the importance of safeguarding the proper use of the anthem’s lyrics and melody.
"As the custodians of Nigeria’s national symbols, it is our duty to ensure that the National Anthem is not misrepresented. To this end, Nigerians must seek approval from the NOA before using it to avoid any possible misinterpretation," Issa-Onilu said in the statement.
He also clarified that the official Nigerian flag remains a simple green, white, and green, with the correct shade of green being Emerald 2.0.
Issa-Onilu pointed out that while past administrations focused heavily on infrastructure, they neglected the critical need for value reorientation, leading to the decline of social organizations like the Boys’ Scouts, Girls’ Brigade, WAI Brigade, and even the National Orientation Agency itself.
However, the current administration, under President Tinubu, is addressing this oversight. The NOA Director General also highlighted the importance of creating locally produced cartoon content to counter foreign values influencing young Nigerians.
