President Tinubu, Ministers Recite Old National Anthem at FEC Meeting
Abuja, Nigeria | Tuesday, July 7, 2026
An unusual moment at Tuesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting has sparked widespread reactions across social media after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and several ministers were seen reciting portions of Nigeria’s old national anthem instead of the officially restored version.
The incident, which quickly went viral, reignited public debate over the Federal Government’s decision to revert to the old anthem, Nigeria, We Hail Thee, replacing Arise, O Compatriots.
Although it remains unclear whether the mix-up was caused by habit, momentary confusion, or an isolated error, the development has generated thousands of comments online, with many Nigerians responding with humour while others questioned why senior government officials still appeared to struggle with the restored anthem.
Social Media Reacts
Facebook users flooded the comment section with jokes and criticism.
One user, Yahaya Endurance, wrote:
“I don’t think if he even remember they change the National Anthem.”
Another commenter, Abubakar Sadik, suggested Nigerians should simply keep both anthems:
“Let’s have two National Anthems… the old one be sung by Nigerians aged 30-above while the new one be sung by those aged 29-1.”
Another Facebook user humorously described the old anthem as:
“Ex wey no gree move on.”
Others argued that the incident would have generated far greater political outrage had it involved opposition politicians rather than members of the ruling government.
Why the Confusion?
Nigeria officially returned to the old national anthem in 2024 after President Tinubu signed the legislation restoring Nigeria, We Hail Thee.
However, many Nigerians had spent over four decades singing Arise, O Compatriots, making occasional mix-ups unsurprising, especially during public events.
Since the change, schools, government agencies, churches, mosques, and public institutions have been gradually adapting to the restored anthem.
Public Debate Continues
The latest incident has again highlighted how deeply the former anthem remains embedded in the memories of many Nigerians.
While supporters of the change say the restored anthem better reflects Nigeria’s founding ideals, critics maintain that changing the anthem was unnecessary at a time the country faces more pressing economic and security challenges.
As clips from Tuesday’s FEC meeting continue to circulate online, the moment has become one of Nigeria’s top trending political conversations.
Social Media Reactions
The screenshots above capture some of the humorous and critical reactions from Nigerians following the incident.
This report is based on the circulating FEC meeting video and publicly available social media reactions.
The online comments quoted reflect the personal opinions of individual users and do not represent the views of Headlineswave.ng.
Further official clarification may provide additional context.
