Our Reporter, Abuja
The President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has assented to the National Anthem Bill 2024, thus reverting the country to the old national anthem, “Nigeria, we hail thee,” thus replacing the old one, ‘Arise O Compatriots.’
This was confirmed by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, in a joint sitting of the National Assembly on Wednesday to mark the Silver Jubilee Of Nigeria’s 4th Republic; and the first anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“This morning, Mr President signed into an Act of Parliament, the newly passed National Anthem 2024,” Akpabio said.
President Tinubu later joined the joint session, and also further confirmed ‘Nigeria, we hail thee’ as the “latest national anthem.”
Senator Akpabio during the session said the sitting was primarily to launch the new national anthem, explaining that the President would not be making a speech because he had to leave for another function learned to be the formal launch of the Abuja metro line.
Ikengaonline reports that the House of Representatives had last week passed the bill to revert to the old anthem sponsored by Professor Julius Inonvbere from Edo State.
This was followed by a quick consideration and its passing on Tuesday by the Senate after considering the report of by Tahir Monguno, chair of the judiciary committee.
Below are the wordings of the old national anthem now to be the new national anthem.
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.
