The story of Nigerian postage stamps is a fascinating journey through the country's history, reflecting its colonial past, its struggle for independence, and its cultural and economic development. From the first stamps issued in 1874 to the modern era, these small pieces of paper have served as tiny ambassadors, promoting Nigeria's identity and heritage to the world.
Nigerian Postage Stamp 1914 George V
Early Beginnings: The Stamps of Lagos (1874)
The first set of postage stamps issued for the area known as Nigeria clocked 150 years on June 10, 2024. These stamps, popularly referred to as “Stamps of Lagos”, were released in 1874. It was a set of six postage stamps, valued and denominated in British currencies of Pound (£), Shilling (S), and Pence (d). The one penny (1d) and two pence (2d) denominations were released on June 10, 1874, while the 3d, 4d, 6d and one shilling (1s) denominations were released in August 1874.
The euphoria generated by this 150th anniversary is still much in the air among philatelists and students of postal history, most especially collectors of Nigerian stamps around the world. The latest was a presentation made by Dr. Simon Heap at the Oxford Brookes University, UK, on August 29, 2024. The Session titled, “The 150th Anniversary of Nigeria First Postage Stamps; Lagos 1874”, was part of presentations made at the Lagos Study Association’s, LSA, conference.
LSA is a stream of the Conference of African Studies Association of the United Kingdom, ASAUK, at the Oxford Brookes University. The conference is one of the most attended Social Science and Humanity conferences on Africa in Europe, so far this year, with many attendees joining online. We thank Dr.
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Colonial Era: Protectorates and Territories
Nigeria was discovered by the Portuguese in the 15th century and was an early center of the African slave trade. By the end of the 18th century, British influence was tantamount in the coastal areas. Britain expanded its holdings in the area after 1861 and consolidated its holdings into the protectorates of Northern Nigeria and Southern Nigeria, which were united to form Nigeria in 1914.
The Southern Nigeria Protectorate was a British protectorate in the coastal areas of modern-day Nigeria, formed in 1900 from a union of the Niger Coast Protectorate with territories chartered by the Royal Niger Company below Lokoja on the Niger River. The Lagos Colony was added in 1906, and the territory was officially renamed the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria.
The Protectorate initially used the postage stamps of the Coast Protectorate. The stamps of Queen Victoria were replaced by stamps of Edward VII in 1903. The design, a profile of the King, continued in use throughout his reign, with changes of color, watermark and paper. The 1d. In 1912, the vignette was replaced with a portrait of George V, for a set of 12, with values ranging from 1/2d.
Independence and Beyond (1960-Present)
Nigeria became an independent federation in 1960 and a republic in 1963. The first issue of independent Nigeria was issued on 1 October 1960, following with a definitive issued on 1 January 1961.
Between 1960 and 1961 Nigerian definitives of 1953-57 were overprinted "CAMEROONS/U.K.T.T." for use in Southern Cameroons of the British Mandate territory of British Cameroons. This issue was also valid for use in Northern Cameroons until it joined Nigeria.
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Between 30 May 1967 and 15 January 1970, the region of Biafra attempted to secede from Nigeria and issued their own postage stamps.
Nigeria has rich petroleum deposits and is a member of OPEC. The massive oil price increases of the 1970s enabled Nigeria to launch an ambitious campaign of economic development. Drastic cutbacks in oil exports during 1981-82, however, made it increasingly difficult to maintain these programs.
The Significance of Postage Stamps
The significance of 150th Anniversary of First Set of Postage Stamps should not be ignored in the postal history of any country. The role of postage stamp as a facilitator of written communication among the people of the world cannot be overemphasized. For close to two centuries, and before the internet revolution, the whole world relied essentially on postage stamps to pilot their written messages to final destinations.
In his article titled: “Curiosity and Adventure made me a Philatelist”, Joseph Archibong, a Nigerian Philatelist wrote that “a letter without postage stamp is like an aircraft without a pilot”. Moreover, the postage stamp is the most important instrument of philately; a hobby that is well known for its educational, historical, cultural and investment values among other benefits that are available to over 60 million stamp collectors, philatelists, stamp dealers and individual lovers of postage stamps across the world.
Beyond its primordial functions, postage stamp is a medium of mass communication, a great object of historical, educational and cultural values and a mean for preservation of heritage, legacies and historical landmarks for posterity. Today’s stamps are educative, informative and entertaining - a display of creativity imbued with aesthetic splendor.
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The Role of Nigerian Stamps
Nigerian postage stamps in its 150 years of existence deserve our commendations. Postage stamps have contributed immensely to the social economic development of Nigeria. For over a century and half, Nigeria stamps have fulfilled the major roles expected from them as recognized by the Universal Postal Union (UPU).
Firstly, the commercial cum financial roles of postage stamp is quite evidence in its monetary function, as a store of value and a medium of exchange in Nigeria. Within the period under review, Nigeria postage stamps served as a quasi - currency of sort. Nigerian stamps were used to collect revenue and some form of taxes for government; such as payment for stamp duty, authentication of receipts and documents, custom duty, consular fees among many others. Stamps used for these purposes are often referred to as fiscal or revenue stamps.
Moreover, Nigeria stamp has positioned itself as an item for investment opportunities for philatelic businesses, philatelists, stamp collectors, and stamp dealers across the world.
Secondly, Nigeria stamps over the century have fulfilled its cultural, patrimonial and promotional roles. As a potent national identity element, Nigeria stamps have been used to affirm the country’s sovereignty. Stamps are often referred to as tiny ambassadors of a country. It also promotes other Nigeria’s national symbols and identity elements such as; the national colors, national flags, national birds, national currencies etc.
Nigerian stamps were used effectively to project the country’s ecological, cultural and political imageries to the world. A study of Nigerian postage stamps from 1874 to date is like revisiting Nigeria’s socio-economic, cultural and political peregrinations over a period of one and half centuries.
Nigeria stamps over the years have depicted the portraits of our British colonial rulers from 1874 up to 1960, when Nigeria obtained her political independence for posterity. At national level, Nigeria stamps have depicted a spectrum of themes and subjects that covered diverse interest such as Nigeria’s; history, heritage, sports, technology, transport and communications, health, agriculture, tourism and tourist destinations.
At Sub-regional level, Nigeria produced stamps that spotlighted activities of the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS). At Continental level; Nigeria stamps were used to promote the activities of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) now African Union (AU). At global level, Nigeria issued stamps to educate her citizens about major occurrences around the world and to strengthen her commitments and diplomatic relations with other countries.
Such stamps include; Commemorative stamps in honor of President John F. Nigeria issued lots of advocacy stamps that enlightened people about important events that occurred in the country and around the world. Such stamps include; Peace issue, released in 1946 after the second World War (WWII), Freedom from hunger (1963), many sets of advocacy stamps that promotes women, children and family wellbeing.
One important topic on global stage portrayed by Nigerian stamps are advocacy stamps on health matters such as; Anti- Malaria campaign (1962), Freedom from hunger campaign (1963), Discovery of causes of leprosy by Dr. A.G.
Most importantly, Nigerian postage stamps over the years, have contributed immensely to enrich the global practice of Philately as a hobby for millions of people across the world, a business model and a promoter of human well-being. The process of producing, promoting, marketing, distribution and usages of postage stamps have created jobs and extra income for stake holders in philatelic value chain such as; postal operators, philatelists, stamp collectors, stamp dealers, stamp designers, investors in philatelic businesses, advertising/publicity companies, postage stamp exhibitors and exhibition service providers.
As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Nigerian postage stamps, one is tempted to ask a question; ‘What is the future of postage stamps in Nigeria’?
Selection of Nigerian Stamps
Challenges and Opportunities for NIPOST
Surprisingly, there was a palpable silence from the Nigerian Postal Service, NIPOST. Not even a statement was issued to acknowledge this important landmark in the life history of its leading organic product. How time changes. This is a great departure from the past. In 2004, a set of special anniversary stamps was prepared to mark the 130th anniversary. The stamps were released in 2005. In 2014 the 140th anniversary event was merged with the activities lined up to celebrate the centennial anniversary of Nigeria as a country, - a result of the amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorates in 1914.
It is a big error for any country vis-à-vis its postal administration not to remember to celebrate the 150th anniversary of her first postage stamps. Moreover, such postal services have denied their people, most especially the youths, the opportunity to know the potential benefits of postage stamps as a postal product, and Philately as a hobby and business for millions of people across the world. For Nigeria to have ignored the 150th anniversary commemoration of its first set of postage stamps uncelebrated is not only a great disservice to her postal history, it is a big minus for NIPOST Philately. It is also a reflection of how deep the falling standard of philately in Nigeria has become.
However, a school of thought has queried the need for celebrating a product which has become irrelevant and anachronistic in the face of new technology. People with such opinion should not be blamed. In spite of emerging technological advancement, postal services across the world still issue and make good money from sales of stamps to boost their countries revenue. For example, the United States Postal Service, USPS, still sells about 12.5 billion stamps every year.
A set of stamps may consist of one or up to ten or more denominations or species of different varieties of stamps, which are released at the same time, under a theme or a topic. Canada in 2023 issued 60 sets of stamps which comprises definitive and commemorative stamps that provides a fascinating view of the people, places, and events that make the country unique as a nation. China in 2023 issued 27 sets of stamps made up of 78 various types. South Africa, Morocco and Egypt usually issue between eight and ten sets of stamps every year.
Regrettably, this scenario is a sharp contrast with Nigeria that issued only one set of stamps which consist of one denomination in 2023. This means; what Nigeria issued in five years is not up to what some countries in Africa normally issued in one year. The answer is largely due to NIPOST historic lack of innovation on Philately and its inability to develop her philatelic products and markets over the years.
In 2021, the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) introduced her first Crypto postage stamps which is an addition to global philatelic value chain. Many countries are issuing various versions of digital stamps including personalized stamps which is now common in many countries. However, it is important to note that postal services need to develop the utility values of their stamps, including their local philatelic markets and value chain before investing on digital stamps, or else it may not produce positive result for such postal service. This is common among many African and developing countries.
In his article titled; “The new face of philately”, Kayla Redstone of the Universal Postal Union wrote; “Today, stamps are much more than a means of paying for postal services; they have become the focus of global market comprising of many stake holders.
The future of postage stamps in any country depends on the attitude of her postal administration towards the development of Philately and uses of postage stamps; either as a postal product, a hobby, and a business model.
Firstly, NIPOST needs to change its attitude and lackadaisical approach towards the development of Philately in Nigeria. Secondly, NIPOST needs to work hard on the standard and utility value of its philatelic products, most especially its stamps. The current state of Nigerian philatelic products including its postage stamps is quite unimpressive and inarticulate to attract any tangible target group.
The quality of the products by all standards are deficient in terms of; creativity, concepts, contents, security features, packaging, frequency and variety of issues etc. Most importantly, NIPOST Management needs to strive to learn and understand the nitty-gritty of Philately as a business model, the importance of philatelic education and the processes of philatelic value chain. Nigeria youths should not be denied the opportunity of tapping into the potential benefits of philately in the 21st century. NIPOST needs to sow the seeds, nurture it and provide the platform for philately to germinate and grow bigger in Nigeria. Nigeria has a promising market, yet to be tapped on Philately and philatelic products, including postage stamps. It is possible for NIPOST to key in to it as a good source of revenue.
On a final note, Nigerians have a great potential for innovations in all field of human endeavor including philately. All we need is a conducive environment and good platform to thrive.
A Beginner's Guide to Collecting Stamps Ep. 1
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