Following the signing into law of a new National Anthem, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has assured Nigerians that a standardised version of the anthem will be issued by the agency.
Director General of the agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, gave the assurance, adding that it would be done after consultation with stakeholders.
He gave the assurance after several versions of the anthem appeared on the social media, with the community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers (COMOS) also reporting citizens’ confusion with the correct lyrics, instrumental and audio rendition of the anthem.
Issa-Onilu stated in a press release in Abuja by the NOA Deputy Director, Press, Paul Odenyi, that many people were eager to learn and promote the new National Anthem but were confused by the various versions they found online.
“Our COMOS whom we ordered to learn the new National Anthem have come up with a feedback that many of our people are eager to learn and promote the new anthem but are confused which of the ones they find online is the correct version.
“They have asked questions about which of the stanzas is the national prayer,” the Director General of NOA added in the release.
Issa-Onilu also assured that a decision on whether any of the stanzas will be adopted as national prayer will be taken after the necessary approval procedure.
The NOA Director General advised government agencies who seek to play the National Anthem at their functions to revert to the agency for the official copy of the new anthem.
Recall that the new National Anthem, “Nigeria Wé Hail Thee”, was in place from 1 October, 1960 when Nigeria attained Independence, but it was replaced with the now former anthem, “Arise O Compatriots” in 1978.
However, President Bola Tinubu signed into law, last week, the revert to “Nigeria We Hail Thee” after its approval by the National Assembly.
