The National Orientation Agency has directed Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers in the 774 Local Governments in the country to learn the new national anthem before June 3.

The Director-General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, in a statement on Thursday by the Deputy Director Press of the agency, Paul Odenyi, said it was part of its efforts to ensure a seamless transition to the new anthem.

According to him, this is part of the national identity project being pursued to promote national cohesion, unity and a sense of patriotism.

“The COMOS are the agency’s lead officers in the local governments, whose roles are primarily to enlighten citizens at the grassroots level of government policies, programmes and activities. NOA is also working closely with the Nigerian Union of Teachers to ensure that schools across the country are mobilised to start using the current national anthem.

“We are excited to embark on this new chapter in our national history. We believe that this new anthem will inspire a sense of pride and unity among Nigerians, and we are committed to ensuring that every citizen has access to it,” Mr Issa-Onilu said.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday assented to the bill that made Nigerians to revert to the old national anthem.

The NOA boss urged the COMOS to take the directive seriously and make every effort to learn the new national anthem by the specified deadline.

He explained that NOA as the custodian of the nation’s symbols had the mandate to promote and preserve the integrity of all national icons including the national anthem. 

(NAN)