President Bola Tinubu has signed the National Anthem Bill 2024, which brings back the old national anthem "Nigeria, we hail thee".
Senate President Godswill Akpabio made the announcement on Wednesday at a joint session of the National Assembly to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Nigeria's Fourth Republic.
The ceremony coincided with the one-year anniversary of President Bola Tinubu's administration.
Tinubu later announced 'Nigeria, we hail thee' as the "latest national anthem" at the joint session.
Akpabio said the meeting was primarily to launch the new national anthem, highlighting that the president would not be making a speech because he has to leave to launch the Abuja metro line.
The Senate and the House of Representatives had previously passed legislation to swap the national anthem from “Arise, O Compatriots” to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” at separate sittings.
Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate who resided in Nigeria after its independence, wrote the lyrics for "Nigeria, we hail thee," and Frances Berda composed the music. Throughout the 1960s and late 1970s, the anthem had a huge impact on Nigeria's national identity and unity.
The lyrics of the new National Anthem are:
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.
