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President Tinubu Flags Off New National Anthem ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’, as NASS Celebrate 25 Years Of Uninterrupted Democracy

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…say 2024 appropriation bill to be submitted early

 
 
By Gloria Ikibah
 
 
 
President Bola Tinubu has signed into law the New National anthem “Nigeria We Hail Thee” in Wednesday morning. 
 
 
The President who was at the Joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives on Wednesday, also flagged off the new anthem as it was official sung for the first time after the New National Anthem Bill was signed into law by President Tinubu on Wednesday morning. 
 
 
Naijablitznews.com recalled that last week the Senate and House of Representatives passed the bill to revert to the old national anthem during plenary.
 
 
President Tinubu in his address congratulated Nigeria for 25 years of unbroken democracy and urged the lawmakers to work together to build Nigeria not only for us but for generations yet unborn.
 
 
“Out of respect I come to say thank you very much for building up to this stage. Building the institution, building the country, you are the first and foremost leaders that will speak for our people and you have been in the forefront of this struggle. 
 
“This institution, the hallowed chambers represent our consciousness for freedom and sense of belonging. 
 
 
“You rang out the  latest national anthem ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’. Since this our democracy representing all charaand how we have lived together to be brothers and sisters. 
 
 
“Without this House probably I may not have found the path to the presidency.
 
 
“Continue to collaborate, work together, build our country, we have no other choice, it is our nation. No other institution or personality, we have to do it ourselves. 
 
 
“We must build this nation so that the future of our children and grandchildren will be sure of prosperity”, PresidentTinubu said. 
 
 
He also assured that he will bring the year 2024 appropriation bill to the National Assembly in a few month time.
 
 
Naijablitznews.com reports that the joint session was in commemoration of 25 year of uninterupted democratic and legislative practice in Nigeria.
 
 
Earlier, according to the tradition of the House, Leader of the House, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere, moved a motion for the admittance into the chamber non members of the House of Representatives and this motion was seconded by the House Minority Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda. 
 
 
“That the House, pursuant to Order Six, Rule 4(1)(i),(ii), (iii), (iv), (viii) and (ix) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives, do admit into the Chamber, the President, Commander–In–Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Vice President, Former Head of States, the President of the Senate, Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Former Senate President, Former Senators, Former Speaker, Former Members, Former Clerks to the National Assembly, Ministers, other Management Staff of the National Assembly, Government Officials and other Dignitaries to commemorates 25 years of Unbroken Democracy/Legislature”, the House Leader said.
 
 
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas were also ushered in. After which Senator he called the session to order and announced that the new national anthem ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’ shall be sung upon the arrival of the president. 
 
 
He also announced that the new national anthem has been duly accented to by the President and signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 
 
 
The President of the Senate commended President Tinubu for the decision to revert to the old national anthem “Nigeria We Hail Thee”.
 
 
He said: “It is important I explain the importance of this visit. That this is what we call in Nollywood ‘waka pass.’ You intend to celebrate democracy day which is June 12. But out of your respect for the National Assembly, you said you must pass through the National Assembly on your first anniversary in office. 
 
 
“Of all the significant things you have done, I think one of the most important is to take us back to our genealogy. The genealogy of our birth. That though we may belong to different tribes, though we have different tongues, in brotherhood we must stand. Henceforth, we may not refer to ourselves as colleagues, we will refer to ourselves as brothers. 
 
 
“Whether in the field of battle, in politics, we must hail Nigeria. The best place to start this revolution is the National Assembly where we have the elected representatives of the people”.
 
 
The Speaker of the House had explained that the President will be present only to flagoff the new national anthem and afterwards proceeds to attend other functions.  
 
 
In his remarks he thanked the president for the partnership that existed with the national assembly. 
 
 
“A big thank you to our dear leaders who has been very supportive of the national assembly over the last one year. A true democrat who has seen it all, a former Governor, Former Senators, a leader of the party and now the president. 
 
 
“I want you to know your Excellency that we in the National Assembly are very very happy with your report card, with your performance so far. 
 
 
“The national assembly is very thankful for your partnership that existed within the last one year. It has been a partnership that has been mutually beneficial to all of us. 
 
 
“It is a win-win and that is how democracy is supposed to be played”, Speaker Abbas stated. 
 
 
Naijablitznews.com recalled that both chambers of the national assembly on Thursday May 23nd , 2024, passed a bill to revert to the old national anthem ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ and discard the present one, ‘Arise O’ Compatriots.
 
 
Sponsored by the House Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere and Senate Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele respectively, the bill speedily passed through second reading, considered and approved at the Committee of the Whole and passed for third reading at plenary 
 
 
The legislation is titled, “Bill For An Act to Provide for the National Anthem of Nigeria, and for Matters Related Thereto.”
 
 
It stipulated that on the date of commencement of the Bill, the national anthem of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” which is prescribed in the Schedule to the proposed legislation.
 
 
According to the bill, the national anthem of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shal be a national symbol and sign of authority, and all persons, individuals or corporate entities, shall respect the national anthem and preserve the dignity of the national anthem. 
 
 
The proposed legislation provided that the national anthem shall be performed and sung on occasions such as: opening and closing ceremonies of Federal Executive Council, and State Executives Council meetings, opening and closing of sittings of Legislative Houses in Nigeria and Constitutional oath-swearing ceremonies.
 
 
Others are: “Major celebrations, major award ceremonies, major commemorative ceremonies, national memorial ceremonies and the like, which are organised by MDAs, major diplomatic activities, major sporting events, other occasions as may from time to time, be determined by the minister responsible for education with the consent of the President.”
 
 
It stated that the performance and singing of the national anthem shall follow the lyrics prescribed by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
 
 
The new law prescribed that when the national anthem is performed and sung “-(a) those present shall stand and deport respectfully, and (b) at flag-raising ceremonies, those present shall face the flag, and uniformed military personnel, Police and other Security personnel are to give a hand salute, and other persons are to look on in respect. 
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Guinea Woos Nigerian Investors to Join $20bn Projects

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By Gloria IkibahGuinea’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Siaka Cissoko, has said that his country has ongoing projects worth about $20 billion, and Nigerian companies are welcome to take part.He shared this during a visit by members of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN) to the Guinean Embassy in Abuja.Cissoko spoke about the long-standing ties between Nigeria and Guinea, and said it was time both countries did more together, especially in business.He also pointed out that many Guinean businesspeople tend to overlook Nigeria when looking for partners, and he hopes that will change going forward.
He said: “As I speak to you, there is an ongoing mega multibillion-dollar project in Guinea, about $20bn that could be handled by Nigerian companies.
 
“I know, with this new partnership, Nigerians will be aware of the projects and key into it.”
 
“Our businessmen always go to India, Pakistan, and other Asian countries to look for $5m to $10m business opportunities that could be gotten in Nigeria because they don’t have comprehensive information,” he said.
 
He emphasised the need to deepen ties between Guinea and Nigeria by working closely with the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria.
According to the ambassador, the association can play a key role in helping people from both countries understand each other better. He also pointed out that Nigerian banks like Access Bank, UBA, First Bank, and Polaris are already operating in Guinea. Cissoko added that both countries, being rich in minerals, have great potential to work together in the mining sector.“In Guinea, many people form their views of Nigeria mainly through Nollywood films. But with this kind of partnership, they can learn more about the country beyond what they see on screen.
“Guinea and Nigeria have a long-lasting bilateral relationship. “It is a good thing that a credible association like yours, the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria, is paying us a courtesy visit.
 
“We are great mining countries, which Nigerian investors could leverage on the opportunity to invest in our country,” he said. 
 
The ambassador pledged Guinea’s readiness to work with the association in various areas, including information exchange, sponsorship, training, and charity work.
 
“We will support your charity work to ensure that you affect the lives of the less privileged in society,” Cissoko said. He also extending an invitation for the association to explore and report on the Guinean community in Nigeria. 
 
In response, the Chairman of DICAN, Comrade Fredrick Idehai, pledged the association’s commitment to partnering with the Guinean Embassy in Nigeria.
 
“DICAN is ready to share information on their business investments and development as part of the partnership.
 
“We will be available to support the embassy at all times”, he asserted.
 
Guinea and Nigeria have historically maintained generally strong diplomatic relations, particularly since Guinea’s independence in 1958. Both nations share close ties within the West African region, and both countries have been actively supporting each other’s development and played key roles in regional initiatives.
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Nigeria’s inflation jumps to 24.23% in March 2025

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Nigeria’s headline inflation rate rose to 24.23% in March 2025, according to the official government data source, the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The rise in the country’s inflation rate, from 23.18% back in February 2025 to 24.23% in March 2025, reflected a major increase in the rising commodity and energy costs in the last few weeks.

According to the March 2025 Consumer Price Index (CPI) Report which measures the inflation rate released by the government agency on Tuesday, the country’s food inflation rate was 21.79% year-on-year in March 2025.
The food inflation rate, however, showed a decrease compared to the food inflation rate of 23.51% recorded in February 2025.

Economists had predicted that the country’s inflation rate which decreased minimally in February would rise when the Dangote Refinery and the state-run NNPCL got entangled in a petrol price war that culminated in the temporary termination of a naira-for crude agreement between the two oil companies and the subsequent increase in the pump price of petrol.

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Some observers had also said the minimal reduction in the prices of food commodities experienced earlier in February was not sustainable, attributing the temporary decline in the prices of food to the importation intervention of the Federal Government.

Food and commodity inflation have skyrocketed as Nigerians battle what can pass for the worst cost of living crisis since the country’s independence over six decades ago, a development that economic wizards have attributed to President Bola Tinubu’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of the forex rates.

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Plateau 51: Mutfwang mourns, says “we failed you”, begs affected community

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Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has apologised to the people of Bassa Local Government Area (LGA) for the failure of government and security agencies to protect lives and properties.

Fifty-one persons were gunned down early Monday in the Zikke community of the LGA, with houses razed and many displaced about two weeks after a similar attack led to the killing of scores of persons in Bokkos Local Government Area.

Less than two days after the most recent assault, Governor Mutfwang apologised for the government’s inability to protect the people.

Fifty-one persons were gunned down early Monday in the Zikke community of the LGA, with houses razed and many displaced about two weeks after a similar attack led to the killing of scores of persons in Bokkos Local Government Area.

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Less than two days after the most recent assault, Governor Mutfwang apologised for the government’s inability to protect the people.

The governor said this on Tuesday at the palace of the Paramount Ruler in Miango.

“I will tell you the truth: I have been crying since yesterday because I had trusted God that all the arrangements were put in place, that this will not happen again. We have made investments in security,” he said.

But like all human arrangements, sometimes they fail. I want to admit that on Sunday night into Monday morning, we failed you. Please, forgive me.”

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He urged the people not to relent in their efforts to secure their communities and ensure that they complement security agencies’ efforts by providing vital information for intelligence gathering and expose the antics of the criminals.

Governor Mutfwang, in the company of security chiefs and members of the state executive council, was in Zikke community to commiserate with the people on the death of over fifty persons killed in Monday’s attacks.

The Paramount Ruler of Irigwe land, Ronku Aka, who is the Brangwe of Irigwe, urged the government to come to the aid of the communities with the provision of social amenities in the area.

The governor and the entourage also went to see some of the families who lost their loved ones in the attack. The victims have been buried just as members of the community demanded action to stem the rising wave of insecurity in the state.

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Plateau State has been a hotbed of attacks, but the renewed spate of attacks adds a fresh layer of twist to the decades-long crisis rocking the North-Central state.

After the most recent assaults, President Bola Tinubu ordered security agencies to fish out the masterminds, describing the attacks as condemnable.

While experts have linked the lingering Plateau crisis to farmers-herders tussle for resources, Governor Muftwang said it was sponsored and genocidal.

According to him, over 64 communities in the state have been taken over by gunmen.

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