ABUJA, NIGERIA — The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has released official guidelines clarifying the proper protocol for rendering the national anthem and reciting the pledge at public and official events.
In a notice published on its official X handle on Friday, the agency instructed that only the first stanza of the anthem should be sung at regular official events. It further directed that the third stanza is to be used as the National Prayer at the beginning of such occasions.
The NOA specified that all three stanzas of the anthem should only be rendered during special national ceremonies, including Independence Day, Presidential Inaugurations, Armed Forces Remembrance Day, and Democracy Day.
Additionally, the agency mandated that the national pledge be recited at the conclusion of every event. “Let us uphold the dignity and sanctity of our national symbols,” the statement urged.
This clarification comes after President Bola Tinubu, in May 2024, signed a new law restoring “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” as the country’s national anthem, replacing “Arise, O Compatriots.” The decision sparked mixed reactions across the nation, with some citizens praising the return to the historical anthem while others criticised it as an unnecessary priority amid ongoing economic challenges.
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