NOA directs LG community officers to learn new anthem in 72 hours

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has directed all community orientation and mobilisation officers in the 774 LGAs to commit the reintroduced national anthem to memory by June 3. 

The agency said community officers “would be the grassroots marshals for the implementation of this new policy of government”.

The NOA added that it is working “closely with the National Union of Teachers (NUT) to ensure that schools across the country are mobilised to start using the current national anthem”.

On Wednesday, Tinubu signed a bill reverting to the old national anthem.

In a statement, Paul Odenyi, NOA’s deputy director of press, quoted Lanre Issa-Onilu, the agency’s director-general, as saying that the directive is part of his organisation’s efforts to ensure a seamless transition to the new national anthem.

Issa-Onilu said the return of the old anthem is part of a national identity project aimed at promoting cohesion and imbuing a sense of patriotism within the citizenry.

“We are excited to embark on this new chapter in our national history,” Issa-Onilu said.

“We believe that this new national anthem will inspire a sense of pride and unity among Nigerians, and we are committed to ensuring that every citizen has access to it.”