The Nigerian Flag: Is It disregarded?

  When Lord Frederick Lugard amalgamated the northern and southern protectorates to form Nigeria in 1914, the vision was to have a united entity bonded by the basic principles of unity, peace and progress. Hundred years down the line, self-interest and regional sentiments have become almost a norm – at least this is not an impression. It does seem real. Why do we find it difficult to return to the drawing board to get it right and let the nation grow as expected, rather than throw in spanners into the works? Many times, the bodies responsible for re-orientating the mind of Nigerians (if there is such a thing) fall short of what they actually set out to do.

Lugard established several central institutions to anchor the evolving unified structure and a Central Secretariat was instituted at Lagos, which was the seat of government. To consolidate the young nation-state, the Nigerian Council was founded to provide a forum for representatives drawn from the provinces. The green and white colours signifying peace and the country’s abundant natural resources, respectively, were chosen and it was agreed that the nation’s flag must reflect such.
In 1959, a year before the young nation’s independence, a 23 year-old man, Michael Taiwo Akinkumi, designed the Nigerian flag and a year later, on Saturday, October 1, 1960, it was hoisted up for the first time.
Then, the flag attracted so much attention and left many in awe whenever and anywhere it was hoisted. The Nigerian flag was a joy to behold; even the queen could not hide her admiration for the work of a passionate young man. School children and adults all had miniature flags to carry and brandish along the roads and in vehicles. Everyone treasured the flag. That was then.
Today, some Nigerians have grown into adult hood, but they have never touched the flag; not even a miniature one. Most shocking is the fact that many are ignorant that the flag is supposed to be hoisted at 6a.m and lowered at 6p.m. The treasured flag can be seen flying at full mast late at night – even in most government agencies, ministries, schools, parastatals and other places where they could be given credit for knowing better.
The national flag is not meant to be left outside beyond 6p.m every day. The ritual was once observed, to a large extent, about three decades ago. Today, though, it does seem like a tiresome duty for many. Some do not even know the significance of the colours. The flag has been so abused that you find them even in buses and tricycles (keke NAPEP). Some drivers fly as many as 12 flags in the front panel of their vehicles, all in the name of decoration.
A bus driver, Timothy Amos, who had six of the flags resting on the front panel of his vehicle, told this reporter: “I love buying flags and decorating my car with them. I don’t see anything wrong in buying and displaying the flag of any country you like. Right here, I have the flags of Nigeria, All Progressives’ Congress (APC), Chelsea Football Club, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Ghana and Benin Republic.
Amos turned to arrange all the flags properly, admired them afresh and seemed quite happy with his deed. He was least concerned about the right-or-wrong factor. Perhaps, he should have known better if the National Orientation Agency had deemed it fit to educate Nigerians and inform them that if any flag has to be flown with the Nigerian flag, that flag must be at half-mast – a clear sign of respect for the Nigerian flag.
Another tricycle operator, Musa Idrees, also had a number of flags on display in front of his tricycle. He too arranged 12 different flags – Nigeria’s, Ghana’s, the APC’s, the Muslim’s, Arsenal’s, the United States of America’s, Britain’s Union Jack and a host of others. When asked why he flew so many flags, including that of countries he, probably, has never been to, Idrees responded: “I love the flags and the countries they represent, that is why I put them in my keke NAPEP.” He has an excuse, though. “I never knew that it is against the law to put the Nigerian flag on the same level with the rest. In fact, this is the first time I am hearing it.” He is not alone. But who will tell them?
Obviously, much orientation is needed on the value and usage of the nation’s flag. It is amazing that the schools are also falling short in realising the flag’s value.
Abuse of the national flag is quite common with ‘civilians’, because military and para-military outfits observe the rules to the letter. As a routine, every morning and evening, men are detailed to perform the function in a silent drill, aided by coded sounds from a beagle. It is their practice to hoist the flag and lower it seven days a week. It is a standard practice in the military. The soldiers detailed to lower the national and unit flags do so simultaneously, as the beagle-blower provides a coded guide. The flag is folded and kept respectfully till the next day.
The sun is not meant to set on the national flag. Once the flag has been lowered, it is no longer necessary to greet a superior with a salute, because what they do is salute the flag. A junior officer or soldier can greet his superior officer, but he is not expected to salute him.