The Nigerian government has urged its citizens to obtain formal approval before using the national anthem to prevent any potential misuse or misinterpretation. The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency highlighted the importance of seeking permission from the agency before utilizing the anthem or its lyrics to ensure accurate representation.
The agency will conduct awareness campaigns in all 36 states of the country to explain the new policies and guidelines. It was emphasized that permission must be obtained from the National Orientation Agency to prevent any misrepresentation of the national symbols.
The Director-General also emphasized that the official colors of the Nigerian flag are green, white, and green, with a specific shade of green known as Emerald 2.0. He expressed concern over the neglect of value orientation in past administrations, leading to the decline of social intervention structures like the Boys’ Scouts, Girls’ Brigade, WAI Brigade, and even the National Orientation Agency.
President Bola Tinubu was acknowledged for recognizing this gap and supporting the resurgence of value-based initiatives. A bill re-adopting Nigeria’s old national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” was signed into law by the President on the first anniversary of his administration. The anthem, originally composed in 1959 by Lillian Jean Williams and Frances Berda, had been replaced in 1978 by a military government but has now been reinstated.