In a recent televised speech, President Bola Tinubu addressed the ongoing protests in Nigeria, reassuring citizens that the economy was recovering. However, social media posts raised questions about the flag displayed behind him during the broadcast. Some claimed it was the Russian flag.
Background:
On August 1, 2024, Nigerians began demonstrating against economic hardship and hunger. On August 4, President Bola Tinubu called for an end to the protests and reassured Nigerians about economic recovery. During his speech, Tinubu stood before two flags: Nigeria’s official green-and-white flag and another flag with red, blue, white, and green colors. Social media users speculated that the latter was the Russian flag.
Claim: The flag behind President Tinubu is the Russian flag.
A X formerly Twitter user with the handle @Austinsupreme11 claimed that the flag displayed alongside the Nigerian national flag during President Bola Tinubu’s televised speech on August 4, 2024, was the Russian flag.
The user posted: “Did Nigerians not noticed something in this Speech, We always fail to identify little details. By the right is Nigerian Flag, left is Russian flag so now tell me. What is really happening? Protester were seen with Russian flags @NTANewsNow @AIT_Online @channelstv”
To verify the claim, the Explainer fact checker carefully examined the televised broadcast and the flags displayed.
The Explainer fact checker found that the flag in question is not the Russian flag but the Nigerian presidential standard. Here’s why:
1. Color Composition: The Russian flag has three horizontal stripes: white, blue, and red. The flag behind President Tinubu has four colors: red, blue, white, and green.
2. Nigerian Presidential Standard: The flag with four colors matches the description of the Nigerian presidential standard, which represents the office of the Nigerian president and indicates his role as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
3. Flag Arrangement: The Nigerian national flag (green and white) was displayed alongside the presidential standard, which is customary during official presidential addresses.
4. Official Context: The use of the presidential standard during an official address is consistent with protocol and does not indicate any connection to Russia.
According to Wikipedia, the presidential standard or presidential flag is the flag used in many countries as a symbol of the head of state or president. Its presence during the televised address is standard practice for such official communications.
While there were reports of Russian flags being seen among protesters in some northern Nigerian states, this is separate from the official presidential address and the flags displayed therein.
Verification: FALSE
Conclusion:
The Explainer concludes that the flag in question is the Nigerian presidential standard, which is an official symbol of the Nigerian presidency.
