The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to seek formal approval before using the national anthem to prevent potential misuse or misinterpretation. In a statement released on Wednesday, Lanre Issa-Onilu, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), highlighted the necessity of obtaining permission from the agency for any use of the anthem or its lyrics.

“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.

Issa-Onilu announced that sensitization campaigns will be conducted across all 36 states to provide clarity on the agency’s new policies and guidelines regarding the national anthem and other symbols.

Additionally, the NOA chief addressed concerns about the Nigerian flag, reaffirming that its official colors remain green, white, and green, specifically the shade of Emerald 2.0.

He expressed concern that previous administrations prioritized infrastructure development while neglecting value orientation, which contributed to the decline of social intervention structures such as the Boys’ Scouts, Girls’ Brigade, WAI Brigade, and even the NOA itself. He credited President Bola Tinubu for recognizing this gap and supporting the revival of value-based initiatives.

Notably, President Tinubu signed into law a bill reinstating Nigeria’s old national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” on the first anniversary of his administration. This anthem, originally penned by Lillian Jean Williams and composed by Frances Berda in 1959, was replaced by a military government in 1978 but has now been restored to its former status.