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Tinubu changes national anthem from ‘Arise O Compatriots’ to ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’

Published

6 months ago

May 29, 2024

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the bill to change the current National Anthem, “Arise O Compatriots,” to the country’s old anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio announced this on Wednesday during a joint session of the National Assembly.

Akpabio said the sitting is primarily to launch the new national anthem, explaining that the President will not be making a speech because he has to leave to launch the Abuja metro line.

President Bola Tinubu, who later joined the joint session, confirmed ‘Nigeria, we hail thee’ as the “latest national anthem”.

The bill titled, “National Anthem Bill, 2024 was passed by the Senate on Tuesday a week after it was passed by the House of Representives.

The old anthem, ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ composed when Nigeria gained independence on October 1, 1960, was replaced with the ‘Arise O’ Compatriots’ version in 1978.

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.

What are the lyrics to Nigeria We Hail Thee?

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.