The President, Bola Tinubu has signed the bill for the return of the old national anthem, “Nigeria, we hail thee”, into Law.
This was disclosed by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday during at a joint session of the National Assembly marking the Silver Jubilee Of Nigeria’s 4th Republic.
According to CHANNELS TELEVISION report, Tinubu who later joined the joint session, confirmed ‘Nigeria, we hail thee’ as the “latest national anthem”.
Akpabio said the sitting is primarily to launch the new national anthem, explaining that the President will 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.
The old anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”, composed when Nigeria gained independence on October 1, 1960, has replaced the “Arise, O Compatriots” anthem.
Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate who lived in Nigeria during its independence, penned the lyrics for “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” while Frances Berda composed the music.
The lyrics to Nigeria We Hail Thee…
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.
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