Senate President Godswill Akpabio claims that if the nation had kept its national anthem, "Nigeria, We Hail Thee," banditry and insecurity could have been prevented. .

President Tinubu reintroduced the traditional national anthem, "Nigeria, we hail thee," in May 2024, after Obasanjo had abolished it in 1978.

 Akpabio stated that the reintroduced anthem would promote love, unity, and patriotism among Nigerians on Tuesday, June 18, while on a visit to the Nigeria Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies in Abuja. He pointed out that people who describe the reintroduced anthem as a remnant of colonialism lack legal knowledge and historical awareness of the nation. The president of the Senate claims that a group composed of Nigerians was established in 1959, heard suggestions for the hymn from all over the world, and authorized its reintroduction at that time.

“The other impactful bill signed by the National Assembly is the reverting to our old national anthem. A lot of people are not aware that there was a panel set up and made up of Nigerians to receive input from all over the world in 1959. So when people are saying we’re bringing in a colonial anthem, they need to look into the history of “Nigeria, we hail thee”. If we had kept to that anthem, we probably would not have banditry today in Nigeria because if you take your neighbour as your brother, you will not want to kill him.”

 Akpabio also revealed that more than 30,000 Nigerian students have been selected to benefit from the student loan scheme.

The Senate President said the Student Loan bill allows the children of the poor and underprivileged persons in the country to obtain higher education without the financial burden.

According to Akpbaio, the bill was one of the most important pieces of legislation passed by the tenth Assembly of the country.

He said: “One of the most important bills for the tenth Assembly was the bill sent to us by President Bola Tinubu. The Student Loan Bill enables vulnerable Nigerian students, the less privileged, to obtain higher education.

“And as I speak to you now, over 30,000 Nigerian students have already been selected to benefit from that scheme.

“That is one of the bills I will say appeal to me the most.”

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