NOA commences nationwide sensitisation to FG’s policies, security consciousness
By Mohammed Baba Busu
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has embarked on a nationwide sensitisation campaign to Federal Government’s policies and programmes.
The News Agency of Nigeria NAN) reports that the sensitisation also focuses on national values re-orientation, flood mitigation, national symbols, as well as national security awareness.
The Director-General of the agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu disclosed this at a press briefing to inaugurate the third quarter sensitisation exercise in Minna on Monday.
Issa-Onilu represented by the Deputy Director, Media Communication of the agency, Princess Egbe Akenzua, said that the initiative would be implemented across the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the 774 local government areas.
He explained that the campaign would adopt a grassroots approach to enable Nigerians engage government directly, ask questions and seek clarifications on policies and programmes.
He listed some of the policies to be highlighted to include the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Social Safety Nets Expansion, the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund, the National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), and the Industrial Training Fund’s Skills-Upgrading and Artisans (SUPA) project.
The NOA boss disclosed that over 600,000 students had already benefited from the education loan scheme with more than N59 billion disbursed, while over two million households were currently enrolled in the Conditional Cash Transfer programme.
On disaster preparedness, Issa-Onilu lamented that recent flood incidents had exposed poor waste disposal and drainage challenges across states.
He urged Nigerians to adhere to weather advisories issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), adding that government had released N3 billion to each state in 2024 for flood mitigation measures.
Speaking on national security, the D-G said the Armed Forces had deployed new strategies including the use of drones, armoured vehicles, and recruitment of 15,000 additional personnel nationwide.
The NOA boss explained that the security awareness campaign was expected to reach at least three million Nigerians in each state through townhall meetings, market rallies, advocacy visits, and community engagements.
Issa-Onilu also announced that the agency would intensify campaigns against extreme graduation practices among students, while also promoting national identity and respect for national symbols such as “the flag, the national anthem, the Naira and the Nigerian passport.”
He stressed that the agency had expanded its communication platforms, including social media, its official website and an AI-powered interface, known as CLHEEAN, to reach younger audiences.
The D-G further said NOA would sustain the “Weekly Explainer” e-journal and continue broadcasting documentaries and jingles on major television and radio stations to deepen citizens’ understanding of government activities.
According to him, the campaign is expected to rekindle patriotism, promote unity, and build citizens’ confidence in the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration. (NAN)
