President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, signed into law the old National Anthem, “Nigeria We Hail Thee”, replacing the existing one, “Arise O Compatriots” to mark his one year anniversary in office.
The president signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law after it scaled accelerated passage by the National Assembly.
Nigeria We Hail Thee was composed by Lillian Jean Williams and Frances Berda, which was used from 1960 till the military regime of Olusegun Obasanjo replaced it with “Arise, O Compatriots” in 1978.
Here is the lyrics of the old 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.
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.
The change in the national anthem came at a time when the country is battling with economic instability, hyperinflation, hunger, food insecurity, and terrorism among others.