Only the first stanza of the national anthem should be sung during official events, according to new guidelines issued by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) about the appropriate performance of the song at public gatherings.
The third stanza of the anthem should be read at the beginning of events as the national prayer, the agency added in a four-point guideline released on Friday.
The declaration states that the anthem’s three stanzas must only be performed for significant national events such the National Assembly’s inauguration, Independence Day, Armed Forces Remembrance Day, and Democracy Day (June 12).
Part of it states, “Only on Independence Day, the swearing-in of a president, Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Democracy (June 12) Day, the National Assembly’s Inauguration, etc., are the three stanzas to be recited.”
The three stanzas of the anthem
Stanza 1
Nigeria we hail thee,
Our own dear native land,
Though tribe and tongue may differ,
In brotherhood we stand,
Nigerians all, and proud to serve
Our sovereign Motherland.
Stanza 2
Our flag shall be a symbol
That truth and justice reign,
In peace or battle honour’d,
And this we count as gain,
To hand on to our children
A banner without stain.
Stanza 3
O God of all creation,
Grant this our one request,
Help us to build a nation
Where no man is oppressed,
And so with peace and plenty
Nigeria may be blessed.