Nigeria’s flag is a vertical tricolour of green, white, and green, designed by Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi in 1959 and first raised on 1 October 1960. The green stripes symbolise agricultural wealth and natural resources; the white band signifies peace and unity. Law prescribes a 1:2 ratio, respectful handling, and authorised display on government buildings, embassies, and service flags. The design has remained unchanged through civil war, military rule, and democratic transitions, serving as a unifying emblem for a diverse federation.
Nigeria’s national flag—green, white, green in vertical bands—emerged directly from the independence movement and has remained visually constant through six decades of profound political change.
Anticipating independence, authorities organised a 1959 competition for a national flag. The winning design by Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi originally featured a red sun in the centre; the judging panel removed the sun to produce the stark tricolour now familiar. At midnight on 1 October 1960 the Union Flag was lowered and the green‑white‑green was raised over Lagos, heralding the Federation’s sovereignty.
The colour symbolism is straightforward and widely taught: green for agriculture and natural resources; white for peace and unity. The simplicity was a deliberate choice to offer a clear, dignified emblem for a vast, plural society.
Statutes and ordinances from 1960 onward, supplemented by the National Flag Act and administrative circulars, set a 1:2 ratio, regulate respectful handling (no ground contact, proper storage), and define authorised uses on public buildings, schools, courts, embassies, and official vehicles. Desecration and unauthorised commercial exploitation are prohibited. Military and service flags adapt the national palette according to separate defence regulations but do not alter the basic civil flag.
Through the 1960s the flag served as a rallying sign during constitutional crises and the civil war (1967–1970). It remained unchanged through subsequent military governments and the return to civilian rule in 1979 and 1999, symbolising continuity above regime shifts. Diplomatic missions and national teams consistently display the tricolour abroad, with procurement standards ensuring correct hues and proportions.
Education and civic ceremonies—Independence Day (1 October), Armed Forces Remembrance Day (15 January)—centre on flag‑raising and the national anthem, reinforcing protocols of respect and the idea of unity in diversity. Guidance also addresses half‑masting for mourning, correct co‑display with state and foreign flags, and dignified retirement of worn flags.
Nigeria’s banner is thus intentionally minimalist: a durable, legible sign of agricultural foundation and civic aspiration, legally protected and widely recognised from Abuja to the diaspora.