President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 reverting to the old National Anthem, “Nigeria, we hail thee”.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, revealed this on Wednesday at a joint session of the National Assembly marking the Silver Jubilee of Nigeria’s 4th Republic.
It would be recalled that the Senate and the House of Representatives had passed the legislation to swap the national anthem from “Arise, O Compatriots” to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” at separate sittings.
The old anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”, composed when Nigeria gained independence on October 1, 1960, has replaced the “Arise, O Compatriots” anthem.
Britain’s Lillian Jean Williams, who lived in Nigeria during its independence, composed the lyrics for “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” while Frances Berda composed the music.
Check out the National Anthem below:
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.
