President Tinubu Signs Old National Anthem Into Law

Abuja, Nigeria —  President Bola Tinubu has signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law, officially reinstating Nigeria’s former national anthem, “Nigeria, we hail thee.”

The decision marks a return to the anthem first adopted at independence in 1960, replacing the current anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots,” which has been in use since 1978.

The legislation, passed by both chambers of the National Assembly earlier this month, reflects a broader initiative to reconnect with Nigeria’s post-independence heritage. Proponents of the bill argue that the older anthem more accurately captures the nation’s aspirations and historical identity.

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.

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

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

The Senate and the House of Representatives had previously passed the legislation to swap the national anthem from “Arise, O Compatriots” to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” at separate sittings.

Following the signing of the bill by the President to reintroduce the old national anthem, the joint sitting jettisoned what has been in existence since 1978, to adopt the former (and newly signed) national anthem ‘Nigeria, we hail thee’.

The old anthem, “Nigeria, we hail thee”, was composed when Nigeria gained independence on October 1, 1960, has replaced the “Arise, O Compatriots” anthem.