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Lagos, Nigeria (1960 - 1970)

Historical flags

Last modified: 2022-10-22 by bruce berry
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Lagos State (1967-1970)

[Lagos] image by Jens Pattke, 10 July 2006

Lagos State was created on 27 May 1967 by virtue of the State (Creation and Transitional Provisions) Decree No. 14 of 1967, which restructured Nigeria’s federation into 12states. Prior to this Lagos Municipality had been administered by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Lagos Affairs as the regional authority, while the Lagos City Council (LCC) governed the City of Lagos. The metropolitan areas (Colony Province) of Ikeja, Agege, Mushin, Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry were administered by the Western Region. The State was formally established on 11 April 1968 with Lagos Island serving the dual role of being the State and Federal Capital. However, with the creation of the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja in 1976, Lagos Island ceased to be the capital of the State which was moved to Ikeja. Equally, with the formal relocation of the seat of the Federal Government to Abuja on 12 December 1991, Lagos Island ceased to be Nigeria’s political capital. Nevertheless, Lagos remains the center of commerce for the country.

Prior to 1970, all of the Nigerian states had their own coats of arms and own flags. The state flags were modeled on the Nigerian national flag but with the state coat of arms in the centre of the white stripe.  These state flags were adopted in 1967 and abolished in 1970. Since 1970 only the Nigerian national coat of arms and national flag may be used as symbol of a state.
Source: Enzyklopädie der staatlichen Wappen und Flaggen (Encyclopaedia of  State Coat of Arms and State Flags), Volume 5.
Jens Pattke, 26 April 2005 and 10 July 2006

The German description of the Lagos State Coat of Arms (by Hesmer) follows:

Der Schild, der von einem schmalen silbernen Bord umzogen ist, wird durch Deichselschnitt in drei Segmente geteilt. Oben rechts in Rot ein schwarzes Zahnrad mit silbernem Innenkreis und silbernen Zwischenring. Oben links in Gold sechs silberne Reiskörner. Unten eine Meeresszene: Unter hellblauem Himmel das schwarzblaue Meer mit zwei Fischern, die zwei weiße Taue und ein weißes Netz halten. Als Crest dient eine weiße Mütze, die auf grünen Blättern, welche in den oberen Teil des Schildes hineinragen, ruht. Als Schildhalter dienen zwei naturfarbene Kokospalmen mit hellbraunen Stämmen, grünen Wedeln und roten Früchten. Als Postamant dient ein grünes Rasenstück, worauf rote, von den Palmen gefallene Kokosnüsse liegen. Das Postament wird nach unten von einem weißen, gelb hinterlegten Spruchband mit dem Motto JUSTICE AND PROGRESS (Gerechtigkeit und Fortschritt) in roten Buchstaben abgeschlossen.

The original source for Hesmer was material from Dr. Mattern (Switzerland)

I have yet another source on the coat of arms. This is a brochure in colour entitled "The Republic of Nigeria" (Lagos, 1966). The colour illustrations are hand sketches of the Hesmer material.
Jens Pattke, 23 Dec 2008

[Lagos flag] image by Željko Heimer, 22 Dec 2008

In Flags through the ages and across the World  (1975) [smi75c] (page 266)  and Flags and Arms across the World (1980) [smi80] both by Dr Whitney Smith, the flag is shown in proportions approx. 5:6, green-white-green with the State coat of arms in the middle.
Željko Heimer, 06 Feb 1996

Lagos Federal District (1960-1964)

[Lagos] image by Jens Pattke, 08 July 2006

A separate flag for the Lagos Federal District followed the same pattern as the State flags in Nigeria.  This flag was used between 1960 and 1964.   Source: Enzyklopädie der staatlichen Wappen und Flaggen (Encyclopaedia of  State Coat of Arms and State Flags), Volume 5.
Jens Pattke, 08 July 2006