NOA to issue standardised version of new National Anthem

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has assured citizens that a standardised version of the Nation Anthem would be issued by the Agency after consultation with stakeholders.

The Director-General of the Agency, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu gave the assurance in a statement issued by the agency’s Deputy Director of press, Mr Paul Odenyi on Tuesday in Abuja.

Issa-Onilu 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.

“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 they are confused and wondered if the ones they find online is the correct version. They have asked questions about which of the stanzas is the national prayer, ” Issa-Onilu said.

The director-general assured Nigerians that a decision of which stanzas to be adopted as national prayer would 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.