The Presidency has described as misleading a viral video showing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) reciting Nigeria’s former national anthem, insisting the footage is an old recording from an earlier council meeting held before changes were made to the federal cabinet.
The Presidency has reacted to a viral video showing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ministers and other senior government officials reciting the former national anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots,” during a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
The footage, which circulated widely on social media, sparked public debate after many Nigerians questioned why the old anthem appeared to have been used despite the country’s official return to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
Responding to the controversy, the Presidency said the video is not from a recent FEC meeting.
Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, Segun Dada, explained that the footage dates back to a council meeting held in either 2023 or 2024 before subsequent cabinet changes. According to him, the presence of former Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako, and references to the now-defunct Ministry of Niger Delta indicate that the recording predates the government’s restructuring of ministries.
The Presidency therefore dismissed suggestions that the old national anthem was recently used during an official Federal Executive Council session.
Nigeria officially restored “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” as its national anthem in May 2024 after President Tinubu signed the National Anthem Act into law, replacing “Arise, O Compatriots,” which had served as the country’s anthem since 1978.
The resurfaced video generated widespread reactions online, with many users questioning whether government officials had mistakenly reverted to the old anthem during an official meeting. The Presidency’s clarification sought to address those concerns by stating that the footage was taken before the anthem change and subsequent cabinet reorganisation.
Segun Dada urged the public to avoid circulating old videos without proper context, saying such content can create unnecessary misinformation about government activities.
He maintained that the clip should not be interpreted as evidence that the Federal Executive Council recently abandoned the country’s current national anthem.
The Presidency’s response comes as archived videos and photographs continue to resurface on social media, often generating confusion over current events. Officials say verifying the timing and authenticity of online content remains important to preventing the spread of misinformation, particularly on issues involving government proceedings.