Nigerians have voiced displeasure following President Bola Tinubu’s decision to revert to the old national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” a move seen by many as a regression to colonial influences.
News About Nigeria reported that the decision was formalised on Wednesday when President Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the change during a joint session of the National Assembly, commemorating the Silver Jubilee of Nigeria’s 4th Republic, which also marked the first anniversary of President Tinubu’s administration.
“This morning, Mr President signed into an Act of Parliament, the newly passed National Anthem Bill 2024,” Akpabio informed the assembly.
The session was convened specifically to introduce and celebrate the re-adopted anthem.
President Tinubu confirmed the reinstatement of “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” as the “latest national anthem.”
Akpabio noted that the sitting’s primary purpose was the anthem’s launch and that President Tinubu would not be delivering a speech as he had to attend the inauguration of the Abuja metro line.
The anthem, originally composed by Lilian Jean Williams in 1960, was replaced in 1978 by “Arise, O Compatriots.”
Many Nigerians took to social media platforms, especially X (formerly known as Twitter), to express their frustration.
Reverting to an anthem composed by colonisers, according to critics, is a step backward for a country and a sign of ongoing colonial influence.
Also, some argued that the government is focusing on unimportant issues that do not benefit the majority of Nigerians while ignoring important economic growth.
See some reactions on social media;
