NewsNigeriaPoliticsPresident Bola Tinubu Signs the “Old” National Anthem Bill into Law 

President Bola Tinubu has signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law, which will see the current national anthem “Arise, O Compatriots” replaced with the previous national anthem “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”

The bill was passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives and signed into law by President Tinubu on 29 May 2024.

The old national anthem was adopted when Nigeria gained independence on 1 October 1960 and was replaced in 1978 by the “Arise, O Compatriots” national anthem.
The lawmakers argued that the old anthem evokes more emotional connections with Nigerians and reflects the aspirations of Nigerians.

Here are the lyrics to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”, the new national anthem of Nigeria:

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.