President Tinubu's ADC salutes behind him while the national anthem is being recited at an event in Aso Rock | File photo
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has issued new guidelines on the recital of Nigeria’s national anthem.
The four-point directive was released on Thursday in a statement.
“Recite/sing only the first stanza (not all three (3) stanzas at official events,” the statement reads.
“The third stanza should be recited as the National Prayer at the beginning of an event.
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“The three stanzas are to be recited/sung only during Independence Day, Inauguration (swearing-in) of a President, Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Democracy (June 12) Day, Inauguration of the National Assembly, etc.
“The National Pledge is to be recited at the end of an event.”
Last May, President Bola Tinubu signed into law the bill that reintroduced the old anthem ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’.
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The anthem replaced the tune which the country has sung since 1978 titled ‘Arise, O Compatriots’.
The change was widely criticised by citizens but Tinubu insisted the re-adopted national anthem was all about service to the nation.
See the lyrics of the reintroduced national anthem below.
Stanza 1
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Nigeria, we hail thee
Our own dear native land
Though tribes and tongues may differ
In brotherhood, we stand
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Nigerians all, are proud to serve
Our sovereign Motherland.
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Stanza 2
Our flag shall be a symbol
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That truth and justice reign
In peace or battle, honour’d,
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And this we count as gain,
To hand on to our children
A banner without stain.
Stanza 3
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.
