Nigerian flag to be raised outside numerous UK town halls in October 1 to mark independence day

AT least six different local government authorities in the UK have announced that they will be raising the Nigerian green-white-green flag on October 1 to mark the country's independence day on Tuesday next week.

Over recent years, several town halls have flown the Nigerian flag on October 1 as part of a ritual which involves them doing likewise for numerous other UK communities with large diasporas. Among the local authorities who have pledged to fly the Nigerian flag outside their town halls this year next Tuesday include Barking & Dagenham, Leeds, Doncaster, Rochdale, Bristol and Croydon.

Many of them will even be holding mini receptions afterwards that will involve the local mayors addressing their Nigerian communities. At the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, where there are currently five serving Nigerian councillors, the mayor has decided to make things a little grand by inviting the chairmen of the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (Canuk ) and the Nigerian Diaspora Organisation (Nido) to grace the occasion.

Canuk publicity secretary, Rose Graham, said: "Nigeria will be 64 this year and it is only befitting that after so many decades of Nigerians working in this country and contributing immensely to its growth that several local authorities join us in celebrating the day. It is very pleasing to know that several town halls will be flying our flag on October 1, which I am sure will make the local Nigerians who live in those communities proud."

Pastor Niyi Zaccheus, the Nido chair, added: "We at Nido are delighted to see this happening as among other things, it shows that we have Nigerian achievers doing great things all over the country. I think it is also nice to see that the local communities which have large Nigerian communities are using this occasion to acknowledge the contributions of our people."

Members of the executive committees of Canuk and Nido will both be present at the Barking & Dagenham event after the mayor, Councillor Moin Quadri, personally invited them. He said the borough is very proud of its diversity and the way it serves as a mini United Nations, embracing people from numerous communities.