Days after the reversal of the Nigerian national anthem, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has announced plans to issue a standardized version of new Anthem.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu on May 29, reinstated the original national anthem titled “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” which was adopted in 1960. He argues that the lyrics express themes of patriotism, peace, unity, and justice more than the “Arise O’compatriots” national anthem.
Although the signing of the law generated controversies among citizens with many Nigerians regarding it as a “misplaced priority” for the government. However, Paul Odenyi, Deputy Director in charge of Press at the NOA said on Tuesday guaranteed that the Agency after consultation with stakeholders.
He said via a statement that “Director General of the Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu gave the assurance after several versions of the anthem appeared on the social media, with the community Orientation and mobilization officers (COMOS) also reporting citizens’ confusion with the correct lyrics, instrumental and audio rendition of the anthem.”
Odenyi quoted Issa-Onilu as saying, “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”
According to the spokesperson, the Director General also assured that a decision whether any of the stanzas will be adopted as national prayer will be taken after the necessary approval procedure.
He advised government Agencies who seek to play the anthem at their functions to revert to the Agency for the official copy of the new Anthem.
