The Federal Government through the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency ( NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, unveiled the standardized version of the reintroduced national anthem on Wednesday in Abuja. Onilu urged Nigerians to pay close attention to the words in lines three and five of the national anthem that was reintroduced. He explained that the goal of the exercise was to guarantee that the lyrics remain consistent. He said: “Today’s event is to present the official version which will clear all doubts about the correct lyrics as contained in the Act signed by the President. “We call the attention of Nigerians to line three of the first stanza, which reads: Though tribes and tongues may differ. Note that the words “tribes” and “tongues” are in plural. We want you to also note that line five of the first stanza reads: Nigerians all, are proud to serve”. The word ”are”, not ”and” is correct.”
On May 29, 2024, on the first anniversary of the current government, President Bola Tinub signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 reverting to the old national anthem, “Nigeria, we hail thee” from “Arise, O Compatriots”.
The President said the latest national anthem, ‘Nigeria, we hail thee’ “is our diversity, representing all characters and how we blend to be brothers and sisters”.
Standardized Anthem
Stanza 1
Nigeria, we hail thee
Our own dear native land
Though tribes and tongues may differ
In brotherhood, we stand
Nigerians all, are proud to serve
Our sovereign Motherland.
Stanza 2
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.
Stanza 3
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.