The Senate has passed the National Anthem Bill 2024 to return to the old national anthem, “Nigeria, we hail thee”.
The bill, which quickly passed first and second readings, currently awaits assent into law by President Bola Tinubu.
The Senate passed 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 supplant the current anthem.
The bill looks to revive the anthem that was dropped in 1978 during Olusegun Obasanjo’s military administration.
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 anthem assumed a huge role in shaping Nigeria’s national identity and unity during the 1960s and late 1970s.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele emphasized the anthem’s impact: “Upon rendition, it inspired deep patriotism among Nigerians. Those who lived through that era recognize its crucial role in our nation’s history, evoking nostalgia and fond memories of our early years.”
The Senate began a public hearing on an Act to accommodate the National Anthem of Nigeria and related matters.
Bamidele, who represented the President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio at the hearing, said the second stanza of the existing national anthem shall be the national prayer.
Notwithstanding, he said if considered essential, further consultation would be made regarding the matter.
In his contribution, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, said the amendment should not emerge only by legislative fiat, however, ought to be subjected to a more extensive consultation.
He communicated that the reversal was not awkward yet ought to encompass a more extensive process to guarantee it is a genuine reflection of the generality of the desires of all Nigerians.
In the meantime, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, cited one of the lines from the previous anthem, which resolves the issue of oppression, while corroborating with the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) that the change of the nation’s anthem was very much past due.
He recalled that he mooted the notion of changing the anthem 10 years ago at the 2014 CONFAB through a motion and the 490 representatives debated on it and upheld it.
As indicated by him, the present Nigerian flag of green-white-green is too bland and not uplifting compared to that of the US and South Africa.
Last week, the bill seeking to make a provision for Nigeria to revert to its old national anthem “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” scaled through a second reading at the Senate before it was eventually passed on Tuesday.
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.
