NOA Condemns Woman Who Tore Hubby’s International Passport
The National Orientation Agency (NOA), on Monday, August 12, 2024, strongly condemned the action of one Mrs. Favour Igiebor, who allegedly tore her husband’s Nigerian International Passport at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos.
Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director General of the NOA, who stated the position of the Agency in a press statement, said the action of Mrs Igiebor constituted an affront against the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Issa Onilu in the statement signed by Paul Odenyi, Deputy Director, Press of the NOA, said that in furtherance of Agency’s national identity project campaign, especially as it relates to the National symbols, the Agency will support moves by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to investigate and prosecute such breach in line with section 10 (B) of the Immigration Act, 2015 as a deterrence to those who may willfully damage an important national symbol as the International Passport.
He further said; “The International passport issued by the Nigerian Immigration Service is the property of the Federal government and no person who has the privilege of owning one should abuse or even damage them under whatever guise.
“What the lady has done is a grievous assault to our collective asset and dent on the symbol of our identity as a nation,” he said
Issa-Onilu appealed to citizens to continue to show respect for the National Symbols as part of our patriotic commitment to national development, saying the NOA as the custodian of these symbols will continue to promote their use and integrity.
The NOA Director General however stressed that the incident called for increased public enlightenment and awareness campaigns by all Nigerians on the National Symbols and the importance of it in the country.
Issa-Onilu said that the International passport is one the core national symbols that are enshrined in the nation’s ordinance as patriotic icon representing countries for which it derives its identity especially among nations.
