President Bola Tinubu has signed the National Anthem Bill 2024, reinstating Nigeria’s old national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” during a joint session of the National Assembly commemorating the Silver Jubilee of Nigeria’s 4th Republic. This decision comes as the nation mourns the loss of 4,416 citizens killed and 4,334 abducted within Tinubu’s first year in office.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio confirmed the bill’s enactment today, marking the first anniversary of President Tinubu’s administration. Akpabio emphasized that the session’s primary focus was the launch of the new national anthem.
“This morning, Mr. President signed into law an Act of Parliament, the newly passed National Anthem Bill 2024,” Akpabio announced. He added that Tinubu would not deliver a speech as he needed to attend the launch of the Abuja metro line immediately after the session.
The legislative bodies, the Senate and the House of Representatives, had previously approved the bill in separate sessions, opting to replace “Arise, O Compatriots” with “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.” Tinubu’s confirmation of the anthem as the “latest national anthem” comes amid the country’s ongoing economic and security crises.
4,416 Nigerians Killed, 4,334 Abducted in One Year – CSOs
As President Tinubu marked one year in office, 85 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) reported that 4,416 Nigerians were killed and 4,334 abducted in the last year under his administration. This revelation was made during the commemoration of the 7th National Day of Mourning for Victims of Mass Atrocities in Abuja. The CSOs called on the government to account for the missing and the dead and to ensure justice for the mass atrocities.
Leaders from various CSOs, including Global Rights Nigeria and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), highlighted Nigeria’s low ranking on the Global Peace Index, placing 144th out of 163 countries, and its position as the 5th most vulnerable country to conflict on the Global Conflict Index.
“We, the undersigned civil society organizations, in commemoration of the 2024 National Day of Mourning and in assessing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s first year in office, reiterate our call to the government to fulfill its constitutional duty of ensuring the security and well-being of all Nigerians, account for the missing and the dead, and ensure justice for the various forms of mass atrocities across the country,” the CSOs stated.
The National Day of Mourning and Remembrance for Victims of Mass Atrocities and Violent Killings is an annual citizen-led initiative that seeks to recognize and honor victims of mass atrocities, emphasizing their humanity and calling for justice. This day aims to rekindle a sense of solidarity and nationhood, reminding citizens of their powerful role in Nigeria’s democracy.
