FG issues new guideline on proper rendition of national anthem

The Federal Government, through the National Orientation Agency (NOA), has released a new guideline outlining the correct procedure for rendering and reciting Nigeria’s national anthem.

In a statement posted on its official X handle, the agency clarified that only the first stanza of the anthem should be sung or recited at all official events. It also stated that the third stanza should serve as the national prayer and be rendered at the beginning of such occasions.

According to the directive, all three stanzas of the anthem are to be performed only during major national events such as Independence Day celebrations, the Presidential Inauguration, Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Democracy Day, and the inauguration of the National Assembly, among others. The agency further noted that the National Pledge should always be recited at the end of events.

The NOA urged Nigerians to respect and uphold the dignity of the country’s national symbols, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the proper protocols during public ceremonies.

The clarification comes months after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed into law an executive bill reinstating Nigeria’s old national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” which replaced the 1978 version, “Arise, O Compatriots,” on May 29, 2024.

The move had sparked mixed reactions among Nigerians, with some praising the return of the old anthem while others criticized the decision. Defending the government’s position, NOA Director-General Lanre Issa-Onilu explained during an interview on Trust TV’s Daily Politics that the anthem was chosen for its emotional depth and its ability to inspire patriotism and national unity.

He said the new anthem evokes a stronger sense of belonging and calls citizens to action, unlike the previous one which, according to him, lacked emotional connection and motivational impact.

The reinstated anthem, written in three stanzas, reads as follows:

Nigeria we hail thee,
Our own dear native land,
Though tribe and tongue may differ,
In brotherhood we stand,
Nigerians all, and proud to serve
Our sovereign Motherland.

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.

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.