You need permission before using the national anthem – FG tells Nigerians
The Federal Government has instructed Nigerians to seek permission before using the national anthem.
The instruction is contained in a statement by the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.
Issao-Onilu stressed that obtaining permission was necessary to avoid misinterpretation of the national anthem.
He further stated that the agency will embark on enlightenment through the media and press conferences across all states to initiate the sensitisation campaign on its new policies.
Recall the Federal Government recently changed the national anthem from the former Arise O’ Compatriots’ to ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’ which was rested by the Olusegun Obasanjo military government in the 70s.
FG says Nigerians need permission before using national anthem
However, the NOA DG didn’t indicate the context in which permission should be sought before the national anthem could be sung, or its lyrics could be used.
“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 read in part.
Issao-Onilu also provided clarification on the Nigerian flag, stating that it’s simply green, white, and green, with the correct shade of green being Emerald 2.0.
He also highlighted the transformation that has taken place in the agency since he took over, including the establishment of audio-visual studios, the launch of an optimised NOA website featuring the CLHEEAN-NOA Artificial Intelligence voice and chat assistant, and the recent approval of institutionalisation policies by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), all with the full support of President Bola Tinubu.
He explained that previous administrations neglected the critical role of the value of orientation, while prioritising infrastructure development, leading to the decline of social intervention structures like the Boys’ Scouts, Girls’ Brigade, WAI Brigade, and even the National Orientation Agency itself.
