NOA DG, Issa-Onilu Vows to Foster National Unity, Patriotism 

Olawale Ajimotokan and Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

The Director General of the Information and National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, has said his mission is to enhance national unity and patriotism.

Issa-Onilu, who took over from Dr. Garba Abari, spoke Monday in Abuja during the handover ceremony of the agency.

He expressed his determination to address the emotional disconnect among Nigerians, which emerged when the country chose to discontinue with the Code of Conduct.

In his address, he urged Nigerian leaders to actively promote ethics and codes of conduct that will enable the country present itself positively to the global community,  adding that nations like the United States and North Korea raised their citizens from an early age to perceive their countries as the best in the world.

Issa-Onilu called for the incorporation of national orientation as a mandatory course from the primary school level to instill a sense of nationalism in Nigerians.

With a noteworthy background that includes serving as the national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Issa-Onilu assured the agency’s team of his commitment to continue and improve their important work.

In his speech, he underscored the significance of nurturing patriotism in Nigerian citizens and the need to provide reasons for citizens to believe in their nation, thereby justifying their emotional connection.

He stressed that leaders should take responsibility for fostering patriotism rather than imposing it and advocated the reintroduction of nationalism as a core subject in schools, akin to subjects like English Language and Mathematics.

The NOA DG compared Nigeria’s approach to citizenship and patriotism with other countries, highlighting North Korea’s belief in its leader as a deity and the United States’ encouragement of citizens to see themselves as superior. 

He encouraged Nigerians to take pride in their nation’s size, population and potential, emphasizing their duty to demonstrate leadership qualities both at home and on the global stage.

The Director General also addressed the significance of projects like the Second Niger Bridge, emphasizing the need to bridge the emotional disconnect between the government and citizens to garner the deserved appreciation.

He called for a collective effort to enable Nigerians willingly follow their leaders for progress and prosperity.

Issa-Onilu expressed gratitude for the support he has received and announced plans for a comprehensive assessment of the agency’s work in the coming days.

He concluded by reaffirming that President Bola Tinubu understands that nurturing a genuine love for the country is key to Nigeria’s prosperity, stability, unity, and progress—a responsibility that the Information and National Orientation Agency is dedicated to fulfilling.

“Every country defines its citizenship in North Korea. As a citizen, you are brought up to see the president as God and you don’t have access to any information that we have that will make you think otherwise. And not to the definition of a good citizen in North Korea for instance. In America, you are brought up to see yourself as superior to the other as you are brought up to consider your country as the best in the world. And as far as they are concerned, they are taught to see America as the only God’s own country.

“Let me reiterate the fact that the president is aware that Nigeria cannot achieve prosperity, achieve stability, achieve unity and make progress if there is no basis to love the country, and it’s our responsibility to establish that basis,” Issa-Onilu said.

He said Nigerians were lucky to have the president that they have because the main focus of his administration is to be passionate about the need for Nigerians to believe in their country.