Abuja: Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday signed a bill that would revert to the national anthem composed by a British expatriate and adopted at independence, a move some described as a cynical distraction from the escalating economic crisis.
“We salute you” will now be used instead of “Arise, fellow citizens.” The bill, which was introduced last Thursday, received quick approval without any legislative discussion.
Nigeria’s economy tanked during Tinubu’s first year in office, which he celebrated on Wednesday by addressing parliament, as inflation reached a 28-year high of 33.20%.
The independence anthem was canceled in 1978 by Olusegun Obasanjo, the military head of state at the time, without giving an official reason, but it is understood to be because it was written by a Briton during British colonial rule.
The move was met with disbelief by some Nigerians at a time when the country is suffering from an economic crisis and deteriorating security.
“It is a waste of time,” Chita Nwanze, senior partner at SBM Intelligence, told Reuters. “More important are inflation and security issues, and that is what the government must look at directly.”