President Bola Tinubu has signed into law the National Anthem Bill 2024, officially reinstating Nigeria’s old national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.” This change marks a major cultural shift, returning to the anthem that was in use when Nigeria first gained independence.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced this development on Wednesday during a joint session of the National Assembly, which was part of the celebrations for the Silver Jubilee of Nigeria’s 4th Republic.
President Tinubu, who later attended the session, confirmed that “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” is now the nation’s official anthem. Akpabio clarified that the session’s main purpose was to launch the new (but historically old) anthem, and noted that President Tinubu would not make a speech as he needed to attend the launch of the Abuja metro line.
The legislation to revert to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” was previously approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives in separate sittings. This anthem, composed at the time of Nigeria’s independence on October 1, 1960, replaces the more recent “Arise, O Compatriots.”
The lyrics of “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” were written by Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate in Nigeria during its independence era, and the music was composed by Frances Berda. This anthem played a pivotal role in fostering national identity and unity throughout the 1960s and late 1970s.
Here are the lyrics to the restored 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.**
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.
More updates to follow…
