The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has urged Nigerians to reject hate speech and political violence as the country moves towards the 2027 general elections, stressing the need to protect national unity and resolve political differences through lawful and democratic means.
The Director-General of the agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, made the call in a message to Nigerians ahead of the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
Issa-Onilu urged citizens to respect divergent political views and engage in issue-based discourse, warning against allowing political competition to undermine the bonds that unite Nigerians.
He said Nigerians must uphold the rule of law before, during and after the 2027 elections, while encouraging peaceful coexistence and constructive participation in the country’s development.
“Political competition should not be allowed to undermine the bonds that unite Nigerians,” he said, urging citizens to reject hate speech and violence and resolve disagreements through lawful and democratic means.
The NOA boss also called on Nigerians to support national development efforts, saying the responsibility for building a peaceful, productive and prosperous country could not be left to government alone.
According to him, Nigeria has made steady progress since independence despite the challenges it has faced, urging citizens to recognise the gains recorded 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,” Issa-Onilu said.
He called for increased productivity, self-reliance and responsible citizenship, stressing that Nigerians could contribute to national development through productive work, respect for national values, peaceful coexistence and positive contributions to their communities.
Issa-Onilu also reaffirmed NOA’s commitment to promoting patriotism, national unity and responsible citizenship, as well as providing citizens with accurate information on government policies and programmes.
He said the agency would continue to encourage constructive citizen participation in the development of the country.
