By Israel Adebiyi
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has flagged off a nationwide sensitisation campaign aimed at deepening citizens’ understanding of government policies, promoting national values, improving security consciousness, and strengthening disaster preparedness across the country.
Speaking at a press conference in Benin City, the Edo State Capital, to announce the campaign, the Director-General of the Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the enlightenment drive would focus on five thematic areas. These include government programmes and activities, national values re-orientation for secondary school and tertiary institution students, flood mitigation, the Nigerian identity project and national symbols, as well as national security awareness to enhance security consciousness in communities.
Represented by the National Director, General Services, Rebecca Nasamu, the NOA boss explained that the campaign was in line with the Agency’s mandate of sensitising the public on government policies, programmes, and activities, adding that recent innovations have expanded its reach to diverse audiences across the country.
He noted that the Agency has reinvigorated its official website, www.noa.gov.ng, with an Artificial Intelligence-powered interactive persona, CLHEEAN, to aid citizens’ access to government information.
In addition, NOA has been producing the “Weekly Explainer” e-journal to simplify government policies for the public. It has also deployed robust re-orientation documentaries and jingles on major television channels and over 185 radio stations broadcasting in English and local languages nationwide.
Issa-Onilu disclosed that in the coming weeks, NOA would engage citizens across the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and the 774 local government areas through town hall meetings, markets and motor park rallies, road shows, and advocacy visits to traditional and religious leaders.
“This boots-on-the-ground approach is aimed at enabling citizens to speak their minds to government, ask questions, and get answers on policies and programmes that affect them,” he said.
Highlighting key focus areas, the NOA boss listed several flagship government programmes including the recently launched Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), designed to ensure that no qualified student is denied tertiary education due to inability to pay fees. According to him, over 600,000 students have already benefitted from the scheme with more than N59 billion disbursed so far.
Other initiatives include "the expansion of social safety nets with Conditional Cash Transfers to more than two million households, the introduction of Trader Moni and Farmer Moni through the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), and the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund targeting 700 rural schools. Similarly, the National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) has earmarked N110 billion to support 150,000 young entrepreneurs, while the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) is implementing the SUPA project to scale up and certify artisans across the country".
On flood mitigation, Issa-Onilu said poor drainage and indiscriminate waste disposal remain major causes of flooding in states across Nigeria. He revealed that the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has been issuing early warnings with 90 percent accuracy, urging the public to adhere strictly to its advisories. He also noted that the Federal Government recently approved a Presidential Flood Mitigation directive with a release of N3 billion in 2024 for drainage clearance and relocation projects.
In the area of national security, the Director-General explained that the Renewed Hope Security Architecture has mandated the Armed Forces to establish specialised units to enhance rapid response to emerging threats. He disclosed that over 15,000 new security personnel, drones, armoured vehicles, and surveillance technologies have been deployed nationwide. The Agency’s goal, he said, is to reach no fewer than three million Nigerians per state with security awareness messages.
The campaign will also tackle the promotion of national values and discourage extreme practices among students. Issa-Onilu stressed that the Nigerian Identity and National Symbols Sensitisation would familiarise citizens with the National Anthem, unity and patriotism campaigns, as well as promote respect for national symbols such as the flag, the naira, and the Nigerian passport.
“These campaigns will happen in the 36 states, the FCT, and the 774 local government areas across the country. They will be carried out through press conferences, town hall meetings, school visitations, advocacy visits, motor parks, and market engagements,” the NOA Director-General said.
He expressed confidence that the sensitisation programme will help Nigerians better understand and key into government policies, foster unity, and strengthen civic responsibility across all strata of society.
On his part, the State Director of the agency, Barrister Osahon Woghiren stressed its commitment to the campaign, promising to strengthen bonds between government and citizens, foster resilience in communities, and build a Nigeria where values, and unity prevail.