A moment of confusion unfolded during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Tuesday as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and several cabinet ministers were seen reciting a version of the national anthem different from the officially adopted one.

The incident, captured in a video that has since gone viral on social media, occurred during the opening proceedings of the council meeting. The rendition immediately drew public attention, with many Nigerians questioning how top government officials appeared to struggle with the country's official national anthem.

The development sparked widespread reactions online, with critics describing the episode as an embarrassing oversight, while others attributed it to lingering uncertainty following the reinstatement of "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" as the country's official anthem in 2024.

President Tinubu had signed the National Anthem Act into law in May 2024, replacing "Arise, O Compatriots" with "Nigeria, We Hail Thee," the anthem used at Nigeria's independence in 1960. The move generated intense national debate, with supporters citing historical significance and critics questioning its priority amid pressing socio-economic challenges.

As of the time of this report, the Presidency had not issued any official statement regarding the incident or clarified whether the rendition was the result of a protocol error or a simple mix-up.

The episode has reignited discussions about the implementation of the reinstated anthem and the importance of ensuring uniformity in official state functions, particularly at the highest levels of government.