President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday, May 29, signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, disclosed this at the joint plenary that had President Tinubu in attendance.
Akpabio said the president signed the bill into law on Wednesday morning.
The development bill will bring about a shift from the “Arise O Compatriots” to the old one.
The bill was cleared by both the Senate and the House of Representatives speedily.
Akpabio said the president signed the bill into law on Wednesday morning.
A woman, Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate who lived in Nigeria during its independence, wrote the poetic lyrics“Nigeria, We Hail Thee” that became the National Anthem for the country for nearly 19 years.
However, Frances Berda composed the music the accompanying music.
The lyrics:
“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.”
