FG Issues New Guidelines for Reciting Nigeria’s National Anthem

The Federal Government has released new guidelines on how Nigerians should recite the national anthem.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), only the first stanza of the anthem should be sung at official events, while the third stanza will now serve as the National Prayer at the start of such occasions.

“Recite/sing only the first stanza (not all three (3) stanzas at official events,” the statement reads.

“The third stanza should be recited as the National Prayer at the beginning of an event.”

The agency added that all three stanzas should only be sung on special occasions like Independence Day, Presidential Inauguration, Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Democracy Day (June 12), and the inauguration of the National Assembly.

“The three stanzas are to be recited/sung only during Independence Day, Inauguration (swearing-in) of a President, Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Democracy (June 12) Day, Inauguration of the National Assembly, etc.”

It further stated that the National Pledge should always be recited at the end of an event.

“The National Pledge is to be recited at the end of an event.”

In May 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed into law the bill that reintroduced the old anthem, ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’.

The anthem replaced the tune that had been in use since 1978, titled ‘Arise, O Compatriots’.

Here are the lyrics of the reintroduced national 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.

Can you recite both the old and the new Nigerian national anthems? Share your thoughts in the comments.