The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has issued a public notice on the proper rendition and recitation of the national anthem and pledge at official and public events across Nigeria.
In a statement posted on its official X account on Friday, the agency urged citizens to “kindly take note of the correct protocol for the rendition and recitation of the National Anthem and Pledge.”
According to the notice, only the first stanza of the anthem should be sung or recited at all official events, while the third stanza is designated as the National Prayer at the start of such occasions.
The agency further explained that “all three stanzas are to be sung or recited only on special national occasions such as Independence Day, Presidential Inauguration, Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Democracy (June 12) Day, and the Inauguration of the National Assembly.”
NOA also instructed that the national pledge should be recited at the conclusion of every event.
Reiterating the significance of national symbols, the agency added, “Let us uphold the dignity and sanctity of our national symbols.”
The clarification follows President Bola Tinubu’s signing of the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law, restoring “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” as the country’s anthem, replacing “Arise, O Compatriots.”
The law, passed by both chambers of the National Assembly in May, has received mixed reactions, with some citizens praising the return to the pre-1978 anthem for its historical value, while others criticised the decision as misplaced amid the nation’s economic challenges.
