By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has released a public advisory outlining the proper procedure for rendering and reciting the national anthem and pledge during official and public functions nationwide.
In a statement shared on its official X handle on Friday, the agency called on Nigerians to “kindly take note of the correct protocol for the rendition and recitation of the National Anthem and Pledge.”
Providing clarification on the approved format, the NOA stated that only the first stanza of the national anthem should be sung or recited at all official gatherings, while the third stanza is to be rendered as the National Prayer at the start of such events.
The agency added 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.”
It further directed that the national pledge must always be recited at the close of every event.
Reaffirming the need to preserve the nation’s identity and values, the NOA emphasised, “Let us uphold the dignity and sanctity of our national symbols.”
This clarification follows the enactment of the National Anthem Bill 2024, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, which reintroduced “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” as the national anthem, replacing “Arise, O Compatriots.”
The legislation, passed by both chambers of the National Assembly in May, has generated diverse public reactions — while some citizens hailed the return of the pre-1978 anthem for its historical relevance, others questioned the timing, citing the country’s pressing economic challenges.