Nigeria@66: NOA Urges Citizens To Sustain Unity, Support National Development

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on Nigerians to renew their commitment to national unity, peaceful coexistence and development as the country marks its 66th Independence Anniversary.

The agency also urged citizens to support efforts aimed at building a more peaceful, productive and prosperous Nigeria, stressing that national development could not be achieved by government alone.

The Director-General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, made the call in his Independence Day message issued to journalists yesterday in Abuja.

Issa-Onilu described Nigeria’s independence from colonial rule as a defining milestone that gave Nigerians the opportunity to determine their destiny and shape the future of the country.

He said despite the challenges confronting the nation, Nigeria had recorded progress since independence, urging citizens to acknowledge 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 government alone could not build the Nigeria desired by citizens, calling for greater participation, cooperation and commitment to national development.

He urged Nigerians to contribute to the growth of the country through productive work, responsible citizenship, peaceful coexistence and adherence to national values.

With the 2027 general elections approaching, Issa-Onilu urged Nigerians to protect the peace and unity of the country by respecting political differences and rejecting hate speech, violence and other forms of divisive conduct.

He called on citizens to resolve political disagreements through lawful and democratic means, while urging them to promote issue-based engagement and respect divergent views.

The NOA director-general cautioned that political competition should not be allowed to undermine the bonds that unite Nigerians.

“Political competition should not be allowed to undermine the bonds that unite us as Nigerians,” he said.

Issa-Onilu also urged citizens to uphold the rule of law before, during and after the elections and participate constructively in the democratic process.

He said Nigerians should use democratic platforms to express their views and resolve differences peacefully rather than resorting to violence or other actions capable of threatening national cohesion.

Beyond the Independence Day celebrations, the NOA boss urged Nigerians to sustain the gains of independence through increased productivity, self-reliance and responsible participation in national affairs.

He said every citizen had a role to play in building a stronger nation by contributing positively to their communities and promoting values that support peaceful coexistence and national unity.

Issa-Onilu reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to promoting patriotism, national unity and responsible citizenship.

He said NOA would continue to provide citizens with accurate information on government policies and programmes while encouraging constructive participation in national development.

“The Nigeria we desire is a collective responsibility, and every citizen has a role to play in building the country we all can be proud of,” he said.