A Federal Executive Council meeting reportedly witnessed confusion as President Bola Tinubu and ministers recited the old national anthem, sparking fresh conversations about Nigeria’s anthem transition.
Reports have emerged that a recent Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting witnessed an awkward moment as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and some ministers reportedly recited the old version of Nigeria’s national anthem.
According to Sahara Reporters, the incident occurred during the opening formalities of the council meeting, where participants allegedly struggled with the lyrics of the country’s restored national anthem. The development has reignited public discussions about the transition from the previous anthem to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” which was reinstated in 2024.
Since the restoration of the old anthem by the Federal Government, many Nigerians, including public officials, have occasionally found it challenging to adapt to the lyrics after decades of using the former anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots.”
The reported mix-up has generated reactions across social media, with some Nigerians describing it as an understandable mistake during the adjustment period, while others questioned the level of preparedness among top government officials.
The Federal Executive Council, chaired by President Tinubu, meets regularly at the Presidential Villa in Abuja to deliberate on key national policies and government decisions. As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from the Presidency addressing the reported incident.
The return to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” marked one of the most significant symbolic policy changes by the current administration. While the anthem has officially replaced the previous version, incidents of public officials mixing up the lyrics continue to highlight the ongoing adjustment among Nigerians.
