A moment of surprise unfolded during the latest Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting as President Bola Tinubu, ministers, and other officials were seen reciting the old national anthem instead of the officially reinstated version.
A video that surfaced online after the meeting showed the anthem being sung shortly after President Tinubu arrived at the venue and greeted attendees with a “good afternoon.”
The anthem recited began with the words, “Arise, O Compatriots,” rather than the current national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” which was officially reinstated in 2024.
As of the time of this report, the Presidency has not explained why the old anthem was used during the council meeting.
President Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill into law in May 2024, restoring “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” as the country’s official anthem after it was abolished in 1978. The legislation was approved by the National Assembly before receiving presidential assent.
Following the reinstatement, Senate President Godswill Akpabio argued that retaining the anthem over the years could have helped foster patriotism and national unity, potentially reducing insecurity and banditry across the country.
Akpabio maintained that the anthem’s message of brotherhood encourages citizens to see one another as family, making acts of violence against fellow Nigerians less likely.
He also dismissed claims that the anthem represents colonial influence, explaining that although it was adopted before independence, its selection followed recommendations from a panel of Nigerians established in 1959, which considered submissions from across the world.