President Bola Tinubu and his cabinet ministers were recorded singing the old national anthem during a Federal Executive Council meeting on Monday. A video of the FEC session, now spreading across social media, captured them performing "Arise, O Compatriots"—the anthem Tinubu himself retired just months earlier.
In May 2024, the president signed the National Anthem Bill into law, officially restoring "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" as the country's national anthem. The restored anthem had served Nigeria at independence in 1960 before being replaced in 1978 with "Arise, O Compatriots."
The video shows Tinubu and his ministers reciting the superseded anthem at the FEC meeting, raising questions about the timing and intention behind the performance. The Presidency has offered no public comment explaining why the old anthem was recited during the gathering.
The incident comes as Tinubu's administration continues navigating various policy shifts since taking office. His decision to restore "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" had drawn mixed reactions from Nigerians at the time.
The video's circulation on social media platforms has sparked renewed discussion about the anthem change and whether Monday's recitation signals a possible reversal of the earlier decision. Officials close to the presidency have not yet addressed the matter.
