By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – As Nigeria marks its 65th Independence Anniversary, the Federal Capital Territory Directorate of the National Orientation Agency (FCT-NOA) has urged citizens to uphold and promote authentic national symbols, especially the Nigerian flag.
The call was made in a statement signed by the FCT director of NOA, Mrs Acharu Opaluwa, who stressed the need to preserve national identity during national celebrations.
Opaluwa emphasised the importance of displaying only the original, legally recognised version of the Nigerian flag, describing it as a strong symbol of patriotism, unity, dignity, and shared national values.
“Upholding the sanctity of the flag fosters patriotism, strengthens national values, and inspires hope for a greater Nigeria,” the director said, as she called for responsible celebration of national symbols.
She expressed concern over the growing presence of wrongly designed flags, especially on streets, vehicles, and at traffic points throughout the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) during national festivities.
According to her, many of these flags, often sold by roadside vendors, include unauthorised features such as the coat of arms, inscriptions, or altered colours, all of which breach the approved 1960 design.
“The authentic Nigerian flag, designed by Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, has three vertical stripes, green, white, and green, with no symbols. Green represents agriculture and wealth, and white stands for peace and unity,” she explained.
The FCT director further said altering or misrepresenting the flag violated the Flag and Coat of Arms Act, which outlines how national symbols must be properly designed, displayed, hoisted, and respected nationwide.
“Using the wrong version misleads citizens, especially young people,” Mrs Opaluwa added.
She, therefore, urged traders, motorists, institutions, and residents of the FCT to stop producing, displaying, or selling incorrect versions of the national flag in public spaces or during celebrations.
Additionally, she appealed to media houses, event organisers, schools, and public institutions to join the agency’s sensitisation campaign and help safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s national identity and symbols.
(NAN)