Barely 24 hours after the Nigerian Senate passed a Bill seeking the return of old national anthem, “Nigeria, we hail thee”, the country’s President, Bola Tinubu has assented to it, making it a law.
“This morning, Mr President signed into an Act of Parliament, the newly passed National Anthem 2024,” Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said on Wednesday at a joint session of the National Assembly marking the Silver Jubilee Of Nigeria’s 4th Republic.
Tinubu, who later joined the joint session, confirmed ‘Nigeria, we hail thee’ as the “latest national anthem”.
The occasion also coincided with the first anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration who took over power from Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2023 after a disputed election which the opposition alleged was rigged to favour the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).
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The sitting was primarily to launch the new national anthem, the Senate President explained.
The House of Representatives had previously passed the legislation to swap the national anthem from “Arise, O Compatriots” to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” which the Senate on Monday concurred with.
The “Arise, O Compatriot” national anthem now jettisoned has been in existence since 1978.
With the signing of the bill by the President, Nigeria has now adopted the former (and newly signed) national anthem ‘Nigeria, we hail thee’ and will henceforth be sang at public functions.
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.
Below is the lyrics of the reverted National 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.
