As Nigeria prepares to mark its 65th Independence Anniversary, the FCT 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 on Tuesday by the FCT director of NOA, Acharu Opaluwa, who stressed the need to preserve national identity during the celebrations.

Mr 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,” Mr Opaluwa said, as he called for responsible celebration of national symbols.

He 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 him, 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,” he stated.

Mr Opaluwa 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.

“As we approach Independence Day, the flag we show on our streets and vehicles reflects our national identity. Using the wrong version misleads citizens, especially young people,” Mr Opaluwa added.

He, 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, he 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)