Confab dumps National anthem, Adopt Old one.

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The National Conference on Thursday 3 July unanimously adopted a proposal that Nigeria revert to her old National Anthem, “which is a more credible symbol of unity, peace and prosperity”.
Instantly, delegates stood and in unison sang the first stanza of the old National Anthem which if adopted eventually, would become the new anthem.

The old anthem: 

“Nigeria we hail thee… our own dear native land; though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand’, was changed to the present one: ‘Arise o compatriots, Nigeria’s call obey…” during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo in 1978.

See full version of the old anthem after the break.

Many Nigerians have expressed preference for the old anthem, as a better expression of the Nigerian spirit.


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. 

Nigeria
"Nigeria We Hail Thee"

Words by: Lilian Jean Williams 
Music by: Frances Benda 
In use: 1960-1978

Nigeria's first anthem, written by a British expatriate, was in use until 1978, when the government changed the anthem. (This anthem still can be heard in Nigeria as a form of protest against the government.)