Nigeria’s Coat of Arms: the Potentials and Promises

Staff Writer

Table of Contents

Let’s write about Nigeria’s coat of arms. If properly valued, it represents Nigeria’s coat of many potentials: strength, power, fertility, and dignity. It is also an indelible agreement that if Nigerians resist the temptations of thievery, selfishness, and corrupt practices, and if they work hard, they are assured of a promise of peace, happiness, and prosperity. The coat of arms constantly reminds Nigerians of their potential, and the promises of a better future if they can, at least for once put their acts together, think like mature people, and exercise a little common sense in their daily activities. Nigeria’s coat of arms is for the undesirables a continuous coat of many potentials but for the remnants of a true Nigeria, it is a coat of many promises.

Potentials or Promises

Suppose Nigerians can put aside all childish political behaviours, kleptomanias, and all-me-first attitudes, give their all back to the country, and return to the truth and fire of autonomy that propelled their past heroes to the 1960 Independence from Britain. In that case, they will stand tallest among nations. They will be truly ‘the Giant of Africa.’  

Nigeria has wept enough. You have moaned and deplored the travesties of your politicians, judges, and undesirables. Nevertheless, the coat of arms is a constant reminder that all hope is not lost, the future can still be bright if there can be a 180 turn from selfishness to selflessness, from national thievery to national restitution and restoration of stolen wealth, from waste to thrift, from barbarism to civility, and from lies to truth. Nigeria’s coat of many potentials or promises is swinging left and right like a pendulum. Since 1960 to date, Nigeria has been stuck in the quagmire of potentiality.

Nigeria knows that the country can compete with any of the top five developed countries in the world but that only exists in the figments of their imaginations. They know that they have the ability, manpower, and resources to change their current economic and social malaise, but their leaders natter and babble about them and do nothing. Yet daily, the coat of arms stares them in the face.  

Their understanding of the term ‘potential’ can be likened to the behaviour of Osuofia, in Osuofia Parts 1 & 2. Osuofia is a character in a Nigerian-made movie, who drinks so much that often he is intoxicated. He then dares to advise people on things that might be useful but is considered by people as someone who lacks self-control, who has no respect for himself and others, and who is very irresponsible. When Nigerian leaders think about Nigeria’s potential, they speak, think, and behave like Osuofia. Because they are drunk with corruption, their words are useless, and they act irresponsibly and foolishly.

If Nigerians chose the coat of many promises, they would have chosen right. By choosing the coat of promises, they are declaring to themselves, to the country, and to the world their stance on governance, and staying in democracy. It is a choice that has some responsibilities because it is like a contract between each citizen and Nigeria. This agreement can be stretched to include terms like covenant: a covenant between Nigeria and its people. Nigeria promises happiness, justice, and peace to everyone if they keep the terms of the agreement as contained in the National Pledge and Anthem.

Though Nigerians chose the coat of potential since Independence, they can still change their choice and choose the coat of promises. If they today choose the coat of promises that has many responsibilities, they will be on the pathway to peace, the right way to recovery, and the doorway to deliver justice and equity.

Nigeria's coat of arm comprising the eagle, two horses, black shield and white 'y' symbol representing Nigeria's rivers Benue and Niger.

Let’s break down the different symbols of the coat of arms and draw out their meanings. Let’s also evaluate if the meanings they had on May 20, 1960, are still the same meanings they have today.

  • The Eagle – represents Strength.
  • The Black Shield and Wavy White Pall – represent the meeting of Rivers Niger and Benue at Lokoja.
  • The Black Shield – represents Nigeria’s fertile soil.
  • The two Horses – represent dignity.
  • The Green and White twist – represents Nigeria’s fertile soil.
  • The Flowers are identified as Costus Spectabilis – Nigeria’s national flower.

Coat of Strength

Since Independence, Nigeria’s coat of arms hangs on the walls of every government building, inscribed on every chair used by government officials, and embossed on every letter-headed paper used by presidents, governors, Senators, and members of the House. It is everywhere like family photos hanging on lounges, living rooms, and bedrooms. It is a cherished coat that does not hide itself in closets or worn by anybody. It is not a type of coat that is worn for warmth. It is a coat of strength represented in the eagle.

A few days ago, the President said, “Nigeria’s population remains the greatest asset the nation wields in the broader mission to become one of the largest economies in the world.” That’s right. But the President spoke while viewing Nigeria as a coat of many potentials. Unless Nigerian leaders start to act while admitting and obligated to the promises of the coat of arms, Nigeria’s coat of strength will become a virus causing vulnerability, futility, and instability. It’s high time Nigeria tapped that strength before it becomes a burden.

Coat of Power

They say knowledge is power. Nigeria is described as one of the most important student-sending markets in the entire world. In 2020 alone, over 100,000 students left the shores of Nigeria to seek learning abroad and their preferred destinations include Malaysia, South Africa, China, Germany, the USA, the UK, Canada, Norway, Australia, and Austria. Those are the popular choices, not to mention the unpopular choices such as the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Russia, Belgium, Brazil, Ghana, and many countries of the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, and so on. This is Nigeria directly and indirectly pushing and chasing its youth away through strikes, unemployment, insecurity, and corruption.

Nigeria’s coat of promises requires that when you give life to a person, you must give the person love at the same time. Nigeria only gives life to its people but other countries they sojourned give them love first and then a new life different from the one Nigeria gave to them. In their different sojourned countries of learning, they are reborn, rejuvenated, renewed, and re-citizened.

As such, Nigerians abroad call their place of different domiciles home and construe Nigeria as a destination. To build a new Nigeria, its leaders must start today and choose the coat of promises and reject the old-fashioned coat of many potentials.

Coat of Prosperity

Nothing is lacking in Nigeria but good governance. Every state of Nigeria is blessed with an abundance of natural and mineral resources. Let’s enumerate them according to the different states of Nigeria:

  • Abia State – has crude oil, limestone, natural gas, lead, kaolin, salt, and zinc.  
  • Adamawa state – has tantalite, limestone, cassiterite, bitumen, gold, lead, diamond, magnesite, gypsum, barytes, platinum, and uranium.
  • Akwa Ibom state – has Clay, Lead/Zinc, Crude oil, Salt, Lignite, Uranium, Giver nitrate, Glass sand, Limestone, Natural gas, and Coal.
  • Anambra State – has crude oil and gas, bauxite, ceramics, Iron ore, limestone, coal, fine clay, marble and silica sand, lead, and zinc.
  • Bauchi State – has Millet, sorghum, corn (maize), yams, rice, cassava (manioc), tomatoes, vegetables, cotton, coffee, peanuts, cattle, tin, coal, limestone, cassiterite, iron ore, marble, and tourism.
  • Bayelsa State – has crude Oil, gas, limestone, lead/zinc, clay, lignite, uranium, gypsum, and manganese.
  • Benue State – has barite, coal, clay, gemstone, gypsum, Iron-ore, lead/zinc, limestone, marble, and salt.
  • Borno State – has bentonite, clay, diatomite, gypsum, hydrocarbon, kaolin, and limestone.
  • Cross River State – has barite, lead/zinc, lignite, limestone, oil/gas, salt, and uranium.
  • Delta State – has clay, glass sand, gypsum, Iron-ore, kaolin, marble, and oil/gas.
  • Ebonyi State – has gold, lead/zinc, and salt.
  • Edo State – has bitumen, clay, dolomite, phosphate, glass sand, gypsum, Iron-ore, limestone, lignite, marble, and oil/gas.
  • Ekiti State – has feldspar, kaolin, granite, syenite, and Tatum.
  • Enugu State – has coal, lead/zinc, and limestone.
  • Gombe State – has gemstones and gypsum.
  • Imo State – has gypsum, lead/zinc, lignite, marcasite, limestone, oil/gas, phosphate, and salt.
  • Jigawa State – has peanuts (groundnuts), sorghum, cotton, cowpeas, millet, rice, cattle, goats, and sheep.
  • Kaduna State – has amethyst, aquamarine, asbestos, clay, fluorspar, gemstone, gold, graphite, kaolin, kyanite, mica, rock crystal, ruby, sapphire, sihnite, serpentinite, tantalite, topaz, and tourmaline.
  • Kano State – has cassiterite, copper, gemstone, glass sand, lead/zinc, tantalite, and pyrochlore.
  • Katsina State – has kaolin, marble, and salt.
  • Kebbi State – has gold.
  • Kogi State – has coal, dolomite, feldspar, Iron-ore, gypsum, kaolin, marble, talc, and tantalite.
  • Kwara State – has cassiterite, columbite, gold, feldspar, Iron-ore, mica, marble, and tantalite.
  • Lagos State – has bitumen, clay, and glass sand.
  • Nasarawa State – has amethyst (topaz garnet), barytes, barite, cassiterite, chalcopyrite, clay, columbite, coking coal, dolomite/marble, feldspar, galena, Iron-ore, limestone, mica, salt, sapphire, talc, tantalite, tourmaline quartz, and zircon.
  • Niger State – has gold, lead/zinc, and talc.
  • Ogun State – has bitumen, clay, feldspar, gemstone, kaolin, limestone, and phosphate.
  • Ondo State – has bitumen, clay, coal, dimension Stones, feldspar, gemstone, glass sand granite, gypsum, kaolin, limestone, and oil/gas.
  • Osun State – has columbite, gold, granite, talc, tantalite, and tourmaline.
  • Oyo State – has cassiterite, clay, dolomite, gemstone, gold, kaolin, marble, sillimanite, talc, and tantalite.
  • Plateau State – has barite, bauxite, bentonite, bismuth, cassiterite, clay, coal, emerald, fluoride, gemstone, granite, Iron-ore, kaolin, lead/zinc, marble, molybdenite, pyrochlore, salt, tantalite/columbite, tin and wolfram.
  • River State – has clay, glass sand, lignite, marble, and oil/gas.
  • Sokoto State – has clay, flakes, gold, granite, gypsum, kaolin, laterite, limestone, phosphate, potash, silica sand, and salt.
  • Taraba State – has cassava (manioc), sorghum, millet, rice, yams, sugarcane, corn (maize), fish, cattle, goats, sheep, rubber, and oil palms.
  • Yobe State – has soda, ash, and titanite.
  • Zamfara State – has gold, coal, and cotton.

Every state of Nigeria is a treasure island. All the above-mentioned mineral and natural resources are enough to describe Nigeria as a land flowing with milk and honey. Oh, what a shame! If half of these natural or mineral resources were to be in the hands of a country with robust governance, no country in the world could compete with it. Nigeria’s mineral/natural resources are the foundations of its coat of many promises.

Coat of Dignity

Nigeria’s dignity is in themselves, not elsewhere. It is in its population. But the name Nigeria/Nigerian is like a curse when heard abroad because it’s a name that is associated with corruption.

There can be no better time for Nigeria to sort itself out than now. The population is now awakened from its laissez-faire slumber. Before nobody cared what the leaders did; there was indifference, nonchalance, detached, and apathy. But after the 2023 Presidential Election and its outcome and the inordinate role played by the judiciary, the true remnants, who are not yet stained by their leaders' corrupt practices have started to reverse Nigeria’s wheel of fortune.

Like the flower Costus spectabilis, the remnants are glowing. Though they are trampled upon and cajoled as daydreamers or visionaries of a better future, they remain strong and convinced in their belief in a brighter future. Like the rhizomes of Costus spectabilis, the remnants are building links and interlinks on ground levels and below ground levels.

The remnants of true Nigeria are spreading inwards and outward, and upward and downward. They are giving birth to a new Nigeria that will usher in a new governance that will lift the sword of the constitution, wear the belt of the national Pledge, and shoes of the anthem of peace. The new Nigeria will be people or citizens who have chosen the coat of many promises. Then, they will be wearing the helmet of trust and faith in Nigeria.

Sources

“President Tinubu: Accurate Population Data Essential for Solutions to Nation’s Challenges” in The News, Thursday, November 9, 2023. https://thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2023/11/09/president-tinubu-accurate-population-data-essential-for-solutions-to-nations-challenges/ accessed 18/11/2023.

“Mineral resources found in Anambra State”, in Naijadazz, by Francis Uzoh, December 8, 2020. https://www.naijadazz.com/mineral-resources-anambra-state/. Accessed 18/11/2023.

“Mineral Resources in Akwa Ibom State” in Infomediang, June 15, 2023. https://infomediang.com/mineral-resources-in-akwa-ibom-state/ accessed 16/11/2023.

“Nigerian students amass degrees to stay in Europe” in BBC Africa, by Nduka Orjinmo, August 31, 2021. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-58319976, accessed 18/11/2023.

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Bauchi." Encyclopedia Britannica, October 11, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/place/Bauchi-state-Nigeria.

“Solid Mineral Resources in Bayelsa State” in Infomediang, June 15, 2023. https://infomediang.com/bayelsa-state-solid-mineral-resources/. Accessed 12/11/2023.

“Natural Resources in Nigeria as Distributed in the 36 States and FCT” in Nigerian Facts, Chibuzor Agunwa, June 9, 2019. https://nigerianfact.com/natural-resources-in-nigeria/. Accessed 19/11/2023.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Jigawa". Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Apr. 2012, https://www.britannica.com/place/Jigawa. Accessed 19 November 2023. 

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