The Bastardisation Of Nigeria’s National Flag

Anational flag represents and symbolises a given nation. It is flown by the government of that nation, but usually can also be flown by its citizens. In Nigeria, shortly before our independence in 1960, a 23- year-old Ibadan-born student, Mr. Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi designed the nation’s national flag of green white green in 1959. In this flag of equal green-white-green vertical stripes, green stands for agriculture and white for unity and peace. The Nigerian flag is mounted in both government

and private offices, and schools and flown by government officials, politicians, students, etc. during festive periods, such as Independence Day celebration, Democracy Day, Children’s Day celebration and other public functions.

Many citizens fly the flag as a mark of patriotism either by mounting it on their cars or their homes.

Unfortunately, there has been a bastardisation of the beautiful Nigerian flag with the embossment of the court of arms on the white. This is a clear debasement of the nation’s identity and ethics. I do not know where this strange addition to the national flag came from but it has been in existence for sometime now. The most disturbing aspect of this corruption of the national flag is the outright ignorance exhibited by highly placed government and elected officials who have unfortunately adopted the fake flag too. It is even more appalling that some renowned television stations in the country are guilty of this inexplicable and shocking.

It is most surprising that schools where students and pupils are taught that the nation’s flag is ‘green white green’’ have not found it expedient to provide the necessary enlightenment but continue to condone the same students display these flags at school functions with no one drawing their attention to the anomally. How do we now call this? The school is teaching students that the colours of the nation’s national flag are green white green, yet, the flag being brought to the school by students is green white green embossed with the coat of arms. Is this not a contradiction? Does it mean the teachers and school authorities have not seen this?

In fact, staff of government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) are equally culpable of flying this adulterated flag in their cars and driving to government offices without being cautioned by anyone. Even some lawmakers are not left out in this despicable behaviour as some in the states and National Assembly fly the corrupted flag in their cars. Some traditional rulers are also guilty of promoting the wrong flag. The question I want to ask is, when was the Nigerian national flag redesigned? Who redesigned the flag? When was the decision taken to change the flag from its original form? Why do we continue progressing in error in even things that should be clear to all? Is the minister and management staff of the ministry of information and national orientation not aware of this? One will not be surprised to find staff of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), an agency that should be at the forefront of educating Nigerians about our values and ethics, also embracing the wrong flag.

In the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and in most state capital cities, hawkers and vendors sell this flag at traffic hold-ups, party conventions and even religious crusades, yet there has been no reaction from the government. In other climes, this grave violation of the national flag would have incurred the wrath of the authorities but certainly not here. Just imagine someone producing the USA flag and embossing it with the coat of arms and flying such a flag in any state in the country. The law enforcement agencies will stop and question you.

The time has come for the federal government to come clean on this and stop this aberration. If the flag has been changed, let it be made official so that people will know. What is happening is not good for Nigeria’s image.

– Nyam, a Media/Communication Expert and writes from Abuja