Tinubu Signs Bill Returning Old National Anthem Into Law

President Bola Tinubu has officially signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law, reverting  to the use of Nigeria’s first national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”

This was revealed on Wednesday, by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during a joint session of the National Assembly in commemoration of the Silver Jubilee of Nigeria’s 4th Republic and President Bola Tinubu’s one year in office.

President Tinubu, who attended the joint session briefly, confirmed the reinstatement of “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” as the country’s national anthem.

Akpabio said President Tinubu would not be giving a speech since he had to go ahead and inaugurate the Abuja metro line. He also pointed out that the main goal of the session was to introduce the new national anthem.

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The Bill seeking a return to the use of the old national anthem was passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives in separate sessions,

“Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” which was unveiled on October 1, 1960, the day the country gained its independence.   It was composed by Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate, who lived in Nigeria then. It will now replace the “Arise, O Compatriots.”

Here is the Old anthem:

Nigeria, we hail thee,
Our own dear native land,
Though tribe and tongue may differ,
In brotherhood, we stand,
Nigerians all, and proud to serve
Our sovereign Motherland.

Our flag shall be a symbol
That truth and justice reign,
In peace or battle honour’d,
And this we count as gain,
To hand on to our children
A banner without stain.

O God of all creation,
Grant this our one request,
Help us to build a nation
Where no man is oppressed,
And so with peace and plenty
Nigeria may be blessed.