The National Orientation Agency, NOA, has reaffirmed its statutory lead communication role as the Federal Government’s principal communication agency, underscoring its extensive grassroots structure and daily physical engagement with citizens across the country.
The Director-General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, made this known during an interview with the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, at the Agency’s Headquarters in Abuja.
The interview was led by Mr. Festus Everistus, alongside Miss Chioma Amajor Love and RC Amaka of FRSC’s Safe Wheel Nigeria Magazine, who formed part of the media crew.
Mallam Issa-Onilu explained that beyond radio, television and social media, NOA officers operate actively at community level, visiting motor parks, markets, traditional rulers and town hall meetings to educate citizens directly.
These engagements, often conducted in collaboration with FRSC at state level, form part of the Agency’s routine nationwide sensitisation efforts, though they are not always widely publicised.
He clarified that NOA was established by law to serve as the government’s central communication bridge. He stressed that when agencies such as FRSC collaborate with NOA, the Agency is not doing them a favour but discharging its statutory responsibility. With 818 offices dedicated primarily to communication, NOA possesses a nationwide structure that most agencies, with only a single communications department, do not have.
On concerns that feedback from citizens does not always yield immediate government action, the Director-General urged fairness in evaluating the nation’s circumstances. He noted that Nigeria’s major constraint remains limited revenue, pointing out that a population of about 240 million people requires far greater financial resources than are currently available.
Comparing Nigeria with Brazil, which has a similar population but operates a significantly larger annual budget, he explained that government must work within its fiscal limitations while addressing obligations such as minimum wage implementation, debt servicing, infrastructure development and security challenges. He added that improvements in crude oil production and trade balance are gradual steps towards stabilising the economy.
The DG also highlighted the transformation of the media landscape, noting that audiences are now fragmented across hundreds of platforms. As a result, NOA has adopted a multi-platform strategy, combining conventional media, social media, influencers and publications tailored to reading audiences to ensure effective reach. He further disclosed that NOA has launched its own Artificial Intelligence platform, becoming the first government agency to deploy such technology in its communication strategy.
Addressing motorists, Mallam Issa-Onilu urged them to be “selfish” with their lives by valuing their personal safety above all else. He advised drivers to obey traffic rules not merely because of enforcement officers, but because they genuinely wish to remain alive, stressing that when individuals prioritise their own lives, safer roads will naturally follow.
