The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has renewed calls for Nigerians to show deeper respect for the national flag, anthem, pledge, and coat of arms, marking this year’s National Ordinance Day.
Director-General Lanre Issa-Onilu said the symbols “are the anchors of our unity and civic duty” and urged Nigerians to consciously integrate respect for them in daily life.
“Respect for our national symbols is respect for Nigeria itself,” Issa-Onilu said in a statement, calling on schools, government institutions, and communities to recite the anthem with pride and hoist the flag properly.
The NOA has intensified a campaign on five themes: Nigerian identity, flag respect, pledge observance, anthem pride, and civic discipline. The annual commemoration, first marked in 1960, highlights the official handover of national symbols at independence.
Citizens were urged to embrace patriotism through interaction with these emblems. “Giving recognition to our symbols is a civic duty and a mark of loyalty,” Issa-Onilu stressed.
Analysts note the campaign comes at a time of political and economic strain, with authorities seeking to foster national cohesion amid division.
Byline: IDNN Politics & Society Desk
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