The Senate has approved the National Anthem Bill 2024, a piece of legislation that aims to reinstate the old anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
The bill, which quickly advanced through its first and second readings, is now poised to become law, pending the signature of President Bola Tinubu.
This swift legislative progress follows the House of Representatives bill passage on Thursday.
Some bill supporters argue that reinstating the old anthem will honour the nation’s heritage and evoke a sense of patriotism rooted in Nigeria’s history.
With both legislative chambers in agreement, the final step for the National Anthem Bill 2024 is President Tinubu’s approval. Once signed into law, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” will officially replace the current national anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots,” marking a return to the anthem sung during the early years of Nigeria’s independence.
It was reported that the bill comes when the country still grapples severely with insecurity, inflation, an unstable economy, and hardship fueled by the federal government’s policies.
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