President Bola Tinubu has signed into law the bill to revert to Nigeria’s old national anthem.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio disclosed that Tinubu signed the bill at the joint sitting of the National Assembly on Wednesday, the day he marked his first anniversary as Nigeria’s president.
He said on the arrival of the president to the chamber, the old national assembly would be recited.
The Senate and House of Representatives passed the National Anthem Bill 2024 to revert to the old national anthem, “Nigeria, we hail thee”.
The Senate passed the legislation to swap the national anthem from “Arise, O Compatriots” to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
The old anthem, composed when Nigeria gained independence on October 1, 1960, will replace the current anthem.
The lawmakers passed the Bill despite concerns raised by some stakeholders including Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice against hasty passage and the need for a wider consultation.
The Bill also received an accelerated hearing at the lower house as it was read for the first, second and third time.
The bill, sponsored by the leader of the House, Julius Ihonvbare, was presented for a second reading on Thursday, May 23.
Tinubu’s assent to the bill has officially returned “Nigeria, we hail thee” as the national anthem.
