List of Nigerian flags


This is a list of flags used in Nigeria.

National flag

Governmental flags

Presidential flags

Military flags

Subnational flags

Historical flags

FlagDateUseDescription
700–1380Flag of the Kanem EmpireA White Field with a Green Palm Tree in the center.
1380–1893Flag of the Bornu EmpireA Brown Field with a White Crescent Moon in the center.
1640–1902Flag of the Aro ConfederacyA black background with a sword and gun with a bird on top with the word “OMU” and “ARO-CHUKWU at the bottom of the flag.On the right and left are two crowns and in the middle two hands appearing to be trading something.
1897A flag which was captured by British forces from the Kingdom of Benin in 1897A red background with a man with a sword cutting someone’s head off.
1804–1903Flag of the Sokoto Caliphate
1887–1888Flag of the Royal Niger Company
1888–1899Flag of the Royal Niger Company
1870–1888Flag of the British West African Settlements
1888–1906Flag of the Lagos Colony
1884–1893Flag of the Oil Rivers Protectorate
1893–1899Flag of the Niger Coast Protectorate
1900–1914Flag of the Northern Nigeria Protectorate
1900–1914Flag of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate
1914–1952Flag of the Colony and Protectorate of NigeriaBritish blue ensign with a green six-pointed star described as the Seal of Solomon, surrounding a Tudor Crown with the white word "Nigeria" under it on a red disc.
1952-1960Flag of the Colony and Protectorate of NigeriaBritish blue ensign with a green six-pointed star described as the Seal of Solomon, surrounding a Tudor Crown with the white word "Nigeria" under it on a red disc.
1959Akinkunmi's original proposal for the flag of independent Nigeria
1960–1998Naval ensignA white field with a red St. George's Cross, with the national flag in canton.
1963Former flag of the president, adopted in 1963