President Bola Tinubu has signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law, reinstating Nigeria’s original anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
The announcement came from Senate President Godswill Akpabio during a joint session of the National Assembly, celebrating the Silver Jubilee of Nigeria’s 4th Republic on Wednesday.
President Tinubu briefly attended the session to confirm the reversion to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” as the national anthem.
Akpabio stated that the primary focus of the session was the anthem’s launch, and President Tinubu would not be giving a speech as he needed to attend the launch of the Abuja metro line. The change followed the passage of the legislation by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Originally composed for Nigeria’s independence on October 1, 1960, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” will replace “Arise, O Compatriots.” The anthem’s lyrics were written by British expatriate Lillian Jean Williams, with music by Frances Berda. It played a significant role in promoting national unity and identity in the 1960s and 1970s.
