Nigerian Flag 

The Federal Government of Nigeria has called on Nigerians to seek permission before using the national anthem, in a move to prevent potential misuse or misrepresentation.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the agency emphasized the need for Nigerians to obtain authorization before using the anthem.

This request is part of a broader campaign aimed at raising awareness and protecting national symbols.

“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.

However, the statement did not specify the exact contexts in which permission would be required for the anthem to be used or its lyrics to be quoted.

As part of this initiative, Mallam Issa-Onilu also announced a series of press conferences across the country, intended to educate citizens on the agency’s new policies and the proper usage of national symbols.

In addition to addressing concerns about the anthem, the Director General clarified that the official colors of the Nigerian flag are green, white, and green, with the proper shade of green being Emerald 2.0.

Mallam Issa-Onilu highlighted key achievements under his leadership, citing the transformation of the NOA from a neglected institution to one equipped with modern facilities, including audio-visual studios and a fully optimized website featuring the CLHEEAN-NOA Artificial Intelligence voice and chat assistant.

He credited President Bola Tinubu’s administration with supporting these advancements, particularly through recent approvals by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for policies centered on value orientation.

“The NOA had been neglected under previous administrations, with social intervention structures such as the Boys’ Scouts, Girls’ Brigade, WAI Brigade, and even the Agency itself falling into decline.

“However, he acknowledged that the current administration, under President Tinubu, recognized the importance of the agency’s role in value orientation”, he stated.

Reflecting on the Federal Executive Council’s recent approvals, Mallam Issa-Onilu explained that these were focused on reviving Nigeria’s National Identity Project and value-based initiatives.

He also introduced the newly established Citizen Value Brigade (CVB), a social institution aimed at instilling Nigerian values in children.

Speaking on this new initiative, he urged Nigerians not to allow their children to look for heroes elsewhere, stating, “We will begin with 1,000 children per state and the FCT, cultivating homegrown heroes for future generations to emulate.”

The Director General further expressed the need to create local cartoon content to counter foreign influences on Nigerian children, stressing that value transmission must begin early.

He emphasized that national progress is a shared responsibility between leaders and citizens, underscoring the importance of active participation in upholding national values.

“In the Nigerian Promise, which is a key part of the National Values Charter, principles of Equality and Meritocracy are guaranteed to all citizens—whether leaders or the general populace,” he added.

Finally, he warned that without adherence to these principles, Nigeria cannot move forward.

Recall that, president Tinubu, on the first anniversary of his administration, signed into law the bill to reinstate Nigeria’s old national anthem, which had been replaced by a military government in 1978.

The re-adopted anthem, titled “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” was written by Lillian Jean Williams in 1959 and composed by Frances Berda.

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