Nigeria Reverts to Old National Anthem 'Nigeria, We Hail Thee'

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria is changing its national anthem as President Bola Tinubu assented to the National Anthem Bill 2024, reverting to an older national anthem titled Nigeria, we hail thee.

“This morning, Mr President signed into an Act of Parliament, the newly passed National Anthem 2024,” Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio, said on Wednesday at a joint session of the National Assembly, marking the Silver Jubilee Of Nigeria’s 4th Republic.

The occasion coincided with the first anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration who also addressed a joint sitting of the National Assembly in Abuja on Wednesday.

The President stepped into the parliament at half past 12 pm, accompanied by the Vice President, Mr Kashim Shettima, and upon his arrival, the lawmakers recited the new national anthem.

Mr Tinubu thanked the lawmakers for their efforts in sustaining the nation’s democracy for over two decades.

“Out of respect, I want to say thank you very much. This is the institution building the country,” he said.

“Our friends, old and new, to every Nigerian, I say congratulations on 25 years of unbroken democracy.”

According to the President, the new National Assembly represent the diversity in the country.

He also commended the federal lawmakers for collaborating with the executive in building the nation, saying no foreign aid will be enough, and All Nigerians must work to make the nation for generations yet unborn.

The Senate and the House of Representatives had previously passed the legislation to swap the national anthem from “Arise, O Compatriots” to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” at separate sittings.

The old anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”, composed when Nigeria gained independence on October 1, 1960, has replaced the “Arise, O Compatriots” anthem which was composed by Ben Odiase.

Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate who lived in Nigeria during its independence, penned the lyrics for “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” while Frances Berda composed the music. The anthem played a significant role in shaping Nigeria’s national identity and unity during the 1960s and late 1970s.