Flags and Coats of Arms Act

Arrangement of Sections

1. Short title.

2. Interpretation.

3. Restriction on flying certain flags.

4. Flying of National Flag in public.

5. Power to fly certain flags without licence.

6. Restriction on using National Flag, National Coat of Arms, etc.

7. National Flag not to be displayed in faded or bad condition.

8. Power of police to seize and remove flags.

9. Licences maybe subject to terms and conditions.

10. Penalty.

FLAGS AND COAT OF ARMS ACT

An Act to regulate the display and use of the National Flag, certain other flags and the National Coat of Arms.

[1st October, 1960] [Commencement.]

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Flag and Coats of Arms Act.

2. Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-

"the National Flag" means the National Flag of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;

"public place" means any highway, wharf, street, bridge and thoroughfare, and includes every place (including any foreshore or any beach or open space belonging to the State) to which the public under ordinary circumstances have the right of legal access, whether with or without payment of any entrance fee or gate money, and also includes
all land and land covered with water contiguous to a public place from which an act constituting an offence against this Act would ordinarily be viewable by persons in such public place.

3. Restriction on flying certain flags

(a) the Royal Standard or the personal standard of royal as Head of the Commonwealth when in Nigeria;

(b) any flag for the time being appointed to be flown by the President;

(c) any flag appointed to be flown only on ships of the Nigerian Navy, or in connection with establishments of the armed forces of Nigeria or the armed forces of any member State of the Commonwealth;

(d) any flag for the time being appointed to be flown by a department, or any branch of a department, of the Government of the Federation;

(e) any flag so closely resembling any such flag as aforesaid that it might reasonably be taken to be that flag,