Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A mild drama played out during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Monday, 6 July 2026, when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and members of the Federal Executive Council inadvertently recited the old national anthem instead of the officially reintroduced version, according to a video that surfaced online shortly after the meeting.
The error occurred immediately after the President entered the meeting venue and greeted everyone by saying "good afternoon." At that point, the national anthem was to be rendered. However, instead of the reinstated anthem, "Nigeria, We Hail Thee," which President Tinubu signed into law in May 2024, the band played the instrumental of the old anthem, "Arise, O Compatriots," which had been Nigeria's official anthem from 1978 until its replacement in 2024. The President and ministers proceeded to recite the lyrics of the anthem that had been replaced, seemingly unaware of the error.
As of the time of filing this report, it remains unclear why the Federal Executive Council recited the old anthem instead of the officially reintroduced version. The incident has sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many Nigerians expressing amusement and bewilderment at the blunder by the country's highest decision-making body.
The mix-up is particularly ironic given President Tinubu's personal advocacy for the return of the old anthem. On May 29, 2024, during the 25th anniversary of Nigeria's Fourth Republic, Tinubu signed into law the National Anthem Bill, officially restoring the 1960 anthem, "Nigeria, We Hail Thee," and discarding "Arise, O Compatriots," which had been in use since 1978. In 2022, Tinubu had declared that he would bring back the first national anthem "if I have my way," and he fulfilled that promise upon assuming office.
The old anthem, written by Lillian Jean Williams in 1959 and composed by Frances Berda, had been replaced by the military government in 1978. Its reintroduction was met with widespread public criticism, with many Nigerians questioning the timing and prioritisation of the change amid the country's economic challenges. Supporters of the move, however, argued that the old anthem better reflected Nigeria's diversity and democratic values.
The FEC meeting on Monday was chaired by President Tinubu and was primarily focused on approving 27 major road projects valued at more than ₦3.9 trillion across 15 states. The meeting was also attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and all cabinet ministers. The national anthem incident, however, quickly overshadowed the substantive decisions taken at the meeting.
The blunder has drawn criticism from some commentators who argue that it reflects a lack of familiarity with the anthem that the administration itself reintroduced. Social media users have pointed out that if the President and his ministers cannot correctly recite the anthem they championed, it raises questions about the seriousness of the policy. Others have more sympathetically suggested that the error may have been due to the band's mistake or a simple case of muscle memory, as many Nigerians, including the President, had grown accustomed to reciting "Arise, O Compatriots" for nearly five decades.
The incident also recalls a similar error in December 2025, when the old national anthem was mistakenly played at an APC National Caucus meeting at the Presidential Villa. At that time, the band initially played the instrumental of the old anthem before the error was corrected. The recurrence of such an error at a formal FEC meeting suggests that the transition to the new anthem may still be encountering teething problems, even within government circles.
The Monday gaffe also comes amid broader debates about the government's priorities. Critics have questioned why an administration grappling with insecurity, economic hardship, and infrastructural deficits would invest political capital in changing the national anthem. Proponents, however, have defended the move as a symbolic reclamation of Nigeria's pre-military heritage and a step towards national reorientation.
As of Tuesday, 7 July 2026, the Presidency had not issued an official statement addressing the anthem mix-up at the FEC meeting. It remains to be seen whether the error will be acknowledged or whether the administration will simply move on, hoping that the incident fades from public memory. However, with the video of the incident continuing to circulate on social media, the awkward moment is likely to remain a talking point for days to come.
The anthem blunder serves as a reminder that even the highest echelons of government are not immune to simple errors. It also highlights the challenges of implementing policy changes that require a shift in long-standing habits and cultural practices. For a President who has staked personal political capital on restoring the old anthem, the FEC meeting mix-up is an embarrassing footnote to an otherwise routine cabinet session.
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