# Arise, O Compatriots

Arise, O Compatriots is a Nigerian patriotic song that was used as the national anthem of Nigeria from 1 October 1978 until 2024, when Nigeria, We Hail Thee was reinstated. On 29 May 2024, "Arise, O Compatriots" was officially relinquished followed by the readoption of the first national anthem, "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" used from 1960 until 1978.

## History

The anthem was adopted in 1978 by the military government and replaced the previous national anthem, "Nigeria, We Hail Thee".
The lyrics are a combination of words and phrases taken from five of the best entries in a national contest. The words were put to music by the Nigerian Police Band under the directorship of Benedict P. Odiase (1934–2013). The Nigerian national anthem lyrics were created by five people: P. O. Aderibigbe, John A. Ilechukwu, Dr. Sota Omoigui, Eme Etim Akpan and B.A. Ogunnaike.
On 29 May 2024, "Arise, O Compatriots" was officially relinquished following a bill passed by the National Assembly and subsequently signed into law by president Bola Tinubu. It was replaced by "Nigeria, We Hail Thee", Nigeria’s first national anthem.

## Lyrics

Although the anthem has two verses, usually only the first is sung. On some occasions, the second verse is recited as "The National Prayer".
| English original | Hausa translation | Igbo translation |
| I Arise, O Compatriots Nigeria's call obey To serve our fatherland With love and strength and faith The labour of our heroes past, shall never be in vain To serve with heart and might, One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity. II Oh God of creation, Direct our noble cause Guide thou our leaders right Help our youth the truth to know In love and honesty to grow And living just and true Great lofty heights attain To build a nation where peace and justice shall reign. | I Tashi, Ya Yan Uwa Kiran Najeriya yayi biyayya Don yi wa ƙasar mahaifinmu hidima Da soyayya da karfi da imani Aikin jaruman mu na baya, ba zai taba zama banza ba Don yin hidima da zuciya da ƙarfi, Al'umma ɗaya daure cikin 'yanci, zaman lafiya da haɗin kai. II Ya Allah na halitta, Ka shiryar da lamirinmu mai daraja Ka shiryar da shugabannin mu daidai Taimaka wa matasan mu gaskiya su sani Cikin soyayya da gaskiya su girma Kuma rayuwa mai adalci da gaskiya Babban matsayi mai girma ya kai Don gina ƙasa inda zaman lafiya da adalci za su yi sarauta. | I Bilie, ndị obodo Oku Naìjíríyà rube isi Ijere ala nna anyị ozi Site n'ịhụnanya na ume na okwukwe Ọrụ ndị dike anyị gara aga, agaghị abụ n'efu Iji obi na ike jee ozi, Otu mba ejikọtara na nnwere onwe, udo na ịdị n'otu. II Chineke nke okike, Duzie ebumnuche anyị dị mma Na -eduzi ndị ndu anyị nke ọma Nyere ndị ntorobịa anyị aka ịmata eziokwu N'ịhụnanya na ịkwụwa aka ọtọ ka o too Na ibi ndụ ziri ezi na eziokwu Enweta oke oke oke Iji wuo obodo ebe udo na ikpe ziri ezi ga -achị. |
| Yoruba translation | Fulani translation | Tyap translation |
| I Dide, eyin ara Wa je pe Naijiria Lati sin ile baba wa Pẹlu ifẹ ati agbara ati igbagbọ Iṣẹ awọn akọni wa ti kọja, kò gbodò ja si ásán Lati sin pẹlu ọkan ati agbara, Orilẹ -ede kan ti a dè ni ominira, alaafia ati iṣọkan II Oluwa Ọlọrun ẹda, Ṣe itọsọna idi ọlọla wa Ṣe itọsọna awọn oludari wa ni ẹtọ Ran awọn ọdọ wa lọwọ otitọ lati mọ Ni ifẹ ati otitọ lati dagba Ati gbigbe laaye ati otitọ Awọn ibi giga giga giga de ọdọ Lati kọ orilẹ -ede kan nibiti alaafia ati ododo yoo jọba. | I Heey, ummee onon leydiyanke'en, nootee noddaandu Naajeeriya. Ngam jagganooɗen leydi baaba, nder yiɗde, tiɗɗinaare e nuɗɗinaare. Njaggu ngenndiyanke men ɓeɗiiɓe to ngu laato ngu meere. Njaggenen leydi nder ɓernde wootere, leydi ngootiri ndarindiiri ndimaaku, jam e dental. II Yaa Joomiimin mo tagaale. Ɓoocin ɗatal amin moƴƴungal Hanndutu ardiiɓe amin no haani Wallutu faamfaamɓe amin paama goonga Ɓe mawnira yiɗde e goonga Boo ɓe ngeeɗira adilaaku e goonga Ɓe njottoyoo gikkuuji moƴƴuɗi Ngam mahuki lesdi ndi jam e adilaaku dogginirtee. | I Á̱na̱nyiuk, nyi ta̱ngam, Fa̱k yei Naijeriya hu. Zi̱ nyia̱ a̱byin ka nta̱m Ma̱ng a̱lyia̱ nzi̱t a̱nyiung. Nta̱m a̱yaagwak nzi̱t na gbangbang, Zi̱ na kai nna ghwon bah. Zi̱ na ba̱ng nna mi̱cet, Zi̱ swan ma̠ a̠byin ka ma̱ sa̱t, zi̱ mun a̱pyia̱ nzi̱t. II A̱gwaza Tswazwa wu, Da̱ kwak nzi̱t a̱son ka. Tyiet a̱ca̱cet nzi̱t ba, Ba̱ cat a̱ghyang ba̱t kuzang jen, Ba̱ swan swat nyinyang hu. A̱wot, ba̱ nyia̱ kyang tswa, Á̱ nok a̱byin nang konyan Nswan ma̱ng sa̱t a̱ni. |

## National Pledge

The Nigerian pledge of allegiance is recited immediately after the playing of the Nigerian national anthem. It was written by Felicia Adebola Adeyoyin in 1976.
| English original | Hausa translation | Yoruba translation | Tyap translation |
| I pledge to Nigeria, my country To be faithful, loyal and honest To serve Nigeria with all my strength To defend her unity and uphold her honour and glory So help me, God. | Na yi wa Najeriya alƙawarin ƙasata Don zama mai aminci, mai aminci da gaskiya Don yiwa Najeriya hidima da dukkan ƙarfina Don kare hadin kan ta da kuma kare mutuncin ta da daukakar ta Don haka ku taimake ni Allah. | Mo ṣeleri fun Nàìjíríà orilẹ-ede mi Lati jẹ ol loyaltọ aduroṣinṣin ati otitọ Lati fi gbogbo ipa sin Nàìjíríà Lati daabobo isokan rẹ Ki o si gbe iyi ati ogo rẹ ga Nitorina ran mi lọwọ Ọlọrun. | N da̱p a̱nu ma̱ng Naijeriya, a̱byin nung ka. N nyia̱ a̱cucuk, n nwuak a̱pyia̱ nung, n nyia̱ tsotswat. N nyia̱ Naijeriya ta̱m ma̱ng a̱lyia̱ a̱nyiung. N cok mun a̱pyia̱ nji hu. A̱wot, n di̱n a̱ma shi nji hu ma̱ng yet nji hu, Mat a̱nia, A̱gwaza beang nung. |