President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday, May 29, signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law.
The bill seeks to reinstate the old anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
A final assent to the passage of the bill will bring about a shift from the now-recognised, “Arise O Compatriots.”
Here are things to know about the old National Anthem “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”
- “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” was used from independence in 1960 until 1978.
2. “Arise, O Compatriots,” was adopted in 1978, replacing “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
- “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” was adopted as Nigeria’s first national anthem on October 1, 1960.
- The anthem’s lyrics were written by Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate who lived in Nigeria when it achieved independence.
- Frances Berda composed the music for “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
- On May 23, 2024, the House of Representatives passed a bill to revert from the current anthem to Nigeria, We Hail Thee.