Federal Government has dismissed reports stating that Nigerians need to seek permission before singing the national anthem in public.
Gatekeepers News reports that Deputy Director (Press) of National Orientation Agency (NOA) Paul Odenyi on Wednesday, said that the statement made by the agency’s Director-General, Lanre Issa-Onilu, concerning the national anthem was misinterpreted.
Odenyi noted that Issa-Onilu merely said that the Agency, as custodian of national symbols, would provide the correct melodies of the National Anthem which was recently introduced to the general public.
The deputy director added that the agency also encouraged those who produce national flags or use them for commercial advertisements to obtain the correct versions from NOA.
He said, “The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has dismissed as untrue reports insinuating that the Agency must give permission to citizens before they can use the National Anthem.”
“The correct submissions of NOA’s Director-General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, during an interview with Radio Kwara is that the Agency as the custodian of national symbols, will issue correct melodies of the National Anthem. He also advocated that those who produce national flags or use them for commercial advertisement purposes should obtain the correct versions from NOA.”
“As a matter of fact, all state offices of the Agency are currently undertaking programmes aimed at enlightening Nigerians on the lyrics of the reintroduced National Anthem.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, the new approvals given by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) prescribe that the first stanza of the National Anthem will be sung at all official government programmes, while the entire three stanzas will be used only at special events such as the Democracy Day, the opening of parliament et cetera. The third stanza has been designated as national prayer.”
