Elochukwu Benjamin
Awka
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on Nigerians to strengthen national unity, embrace responsible citizenship and support efforts towards building a peaceful, productive and prosperous nation as the country marks its 66th Independence Anniversary.
The Director-General of the Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, made the call in his Independence Day message on Thursday, urging citizens to take greater responsibility for the country’s development and sustain the gains recorded since independence.
Issa-Onilu described Nigeria’s independence from colonial rule as a defining moment in the country’s history, which provided Nigerians with the opportunity to determine their destiny and shape their collective future.
While acknowledging the challenges confronting the country, he said Nigeria had recorded steady progress over the years, urging citizens to appreciate the achievements while remaining committed to addressing areas requiring further improvement.
“We must continue to hold on to the gains of our independence by taking responsibility for the Nigeria we want. The progress of our country depends not only on what the government does, but also on what each of us contributes as citizens,” he said.
The NOA boss stressed that nation-building was a collective responsibility that required active participation, cooperation and commitment from both the government and citizens.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, Issa-Onilu also called on Nigerians to protect the country’s peace and unity by respecting political differences, rejecting hate speech and violence, and resolving disagreements through lawful and democratic means.
He cautioned against allowing political competition to undermine the bonds of national unity, urging political actors and citizens to embrace issue-based engagements, respect divergent opinions and uphold the rule of law before, during and after the elections.
The Director-General further urged Nigerians to sustain the values of independence through increased productivity, self-reliance and responsible citizenship.
He noted that every citizen had a role to play in building a stronger nation through productive work, respect for national values, peaceful coexistence and meaningful contributions to community development.
Issa-Onilu reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to promoting patriotism, national unity and responsible citizenship, while ensuring that Nigerians receive accurate information on government policies and programmes to encourage informed and constructive participation in national development.
