The National Orientation Agency has announced plans to release a standardized version of the Nigerian national anthem, following confusion among citizens over various versions circulating on social media.
According to a statement issued by the agency on Tuesday, NOA Director-General Lanre Issa-Onilu assured that the standardized version will be issued after consultations with relevant stakeholders.
The move comes after community orientation and mobilization officers reported widespread confusion over the correct lyrics, instrumental, and audio rendition of the anthem.
The agency’s decision aims to provide a unified and official version of the national anthem for use by government agencies, institutions, and citizens.
“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,” Mr Issa-Onilu said.
The NKA director-general assured Nigerians that a decision of which stanzas to be adopted as national prayer would be taken after the necessary approval procedure, according to Peoples Gazette.
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.