NOA denies reports of N814bn spent on national anthem, says ‘no money allocated’

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) says the federal government has not allocated funds for the promotion of the new national anthem, contrary to reports on social media.

Lanre Issa-Onilu, the director-general of the agency, spoke on Wednesday at the presentation of the official version of the new national anthem in Abuja.

On May 29, President Bola Tinubu signed a bill reintroducing the old national anthem.

However, there have been criticisms against the reintroduction of the anthem.

There have been reports on social media that Atiku Bagudu, minister of budget, said the federal government spent N814 billion on the new national anthem.

Reacting to the claim, the director-general said the agency has not received any funds for the national anthem.

“The NOA is a custodian for national symbols, which include the constitution, the currency, the national anthem, the national pledge, the flag, the coat of arms, and the seal of the president.

“So if there is any agency that would have received that money, it would be NOA. I can assure you, as I speak to you, that the federal government has not spent one naira or allocated one naira for the national anthem. There has been no allocation of N814 billion.

“What we have done so far as the NOA is to rely on our structure. With or without the national anthem, we work on a daily basis,” he said.