Nigeria Adopts New National Anthem Amid Widespread Criticism

ABUJA, Nigeria — On Wednesday, May 29, Nigeria adopted a new national anthem after lawmakers passed a law replacing the current anthem with a version dropped nearly half a century ago. This swift legislative move has sparked widespread criticism over the lack of public input in the decision.

President Bola Tinubu signed the law a day after it was approved by both chambers of Nigeria's National Assembly, which is dominated by the governing party. The federal lawmakers introduced and passed the bill in less than a week, an unusually rapid process for significant legislation that typically takes weeks or months to be considered.

The "Arise, O Compatriots" anthem, which had been in use since 1978, was introduced by the military government during a time when Nigeria was recovering from a deadly civil war. The anthem urged Nigerians to "serve our fatherland with love and strength" and not to let "the labor of our heroes past be in vain."

The new anthem, which takes immediate effect, was first introduced in 1960 when Nigeria gained independence from Britain. Titled "Nigeria We Hail Thee," it was written by Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate living in Nigeria at the time. This anthem was later replaced by the military.

The new anthem was publicly played for the first time at a legislative session attended by President Tinubu, who also marked his one year in office as president on Wednesday.

Many Nigerians, however, have taken to social media to express their disapproval, with some declaring they will not sing the new national anthem. Among the critics is Oby Ezekwesili, a former education minister and presidential aspirant, who argued that the new law demonstrates a disregard for public interest by the political class.

"In a 21st Century Nigeria, the country's political class found a colonial National Anthem that has pejorative words like 'Native Land' and 'Tribes' to be admirable enough to foist on our Citizens without their consent," Ezekwesili posted on X.

Supporters of the new anthem, however, argued that it was inappropriate for the country to have adopted an anthem introduced by the military. "Anthems are ideological recitations that help the people to be more focused. It was a very sad development for the military to have changed the anthem," public affairs analyst Frank Tietie said.

The controversy over the new anthem highlights the broader tensions in Nigeria regarding national identity and the influence of historical and political legacies on contemporary governance. As the nation moves forward, the debate over the anthem underscores the need for greater public engagement and transparency in decision-making processes.