The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has urged Nigerians to respect national symbols such as flags, coats of arms, national currency, anthem and pledge, and emblems.

Clara Nwachukwu, the state director of NOA in Enugu, made the call when she led some agency management staff on a courtesy visit to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Enugu office, on Wednesday.

Ms Nwachukwu expressed the need for Nigerians to accord respect to national symbols and regretted that the country’s flag was no longer respected.

“We see these days torn national flags and some government offices without a flag.

“These symbols represent our nation’s heritage, values and aspirations. They play a crucial role in education, cultural preservation and international representation,” she said.

The state director added that they visited NAN to partner with the agency in sensitising Nigerians on the federal government’s policies and programmes,  especially the new national anthem, through their reportage.

Ms Nwachukwu, who noted that the national anthem was used from 1960 till 1978, said President Bola Tinubu’s administration introduced it to Nigerians due to its value and alignment with what the government was doing.

“The stanza one is really touching and has so much value, a show of concern for our youths and our value that is already eroding.

“NOA wants to use the platform to sensitise Nigerians, especially those at the grassroots, to remind them of our culture and value the country is known for; that is, the respect for one another and brotherhood.

“That is why our director-general of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, mandated us to go around Nigeria sensitising them on the new national anthem and the need to uphold national values, especially among the youths,” she said.

She added that stanza one has been made compulsory to be recited at official functions, while stanzas one to three should be said on special occasions like Independence and Democracy Day, children’s celebrations, and others.

(NAN)