Nigeria adopted a new national anthem on Wednesday following the swift passage of a law by lawmakers, which replaced the existing anthem that had been in use since 1978. The decision has sparked significant criticism due to the perceived lack of public consultation.

The newly adopted anthem, “Nigeria We Hail Thee,” was originally introduced in 1960 when Nigeria gained independence from Britain. It was composed by Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate living in Nigeria at the time. This anthem was subsequently dropped by the military government but has now been reinstated.

President Bola Tinubu gave his assent to the law one day after it was approved by both chambers of Nigeria’s National Assembly, which is dominated by the ruling party. The legislative process, completed in less than a week, is notably fast for such significant legislation.

Despite its formal adoption, the introduction of the new anthem has faced resistance from many Nigerians, who have expressed their reluctance to embrace it on social media platforms.

Here is a report from Joseph Peter form LN24 international.