The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, has strongly condemned the actions of Mrs. Favour Igiebor, who allegedly tore her husband’s international passport at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos.
The incident, which has sparked widespread outrage, is seen as a violation of Nigerian law and a serious affront to national symbols.
In a statement, Mallam Issa Onilu emphasized that the international passport, issued by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), is the property of the Federal Government and should be treated with respect.
He stated that the passport is not just a travel document but a key symbol of Nigeria’s national identity. “The international passport is a collective asset and a symbol of our identity as a nation,” he said.
The NOA DG expressed support for the NIS’s intention to investigate and prosecute the case under Section 10(B) of the Immigration Act, 2015. He stressed that such actions must be deterred to prevent further disrespect and damage to important national symbols.
Mallam Issa Onilu also called on all Nigerians to show respect for national symbols as part of their patriotic duty, highlighting the NOA’s ongoing commitment to promoting the use and integrity of these symbols.
He noted that the incident underscores the need for increased public awareness and education about the importance of national symbols in fostering national unity and identity.
The statement from the NOA concludes with a reminder that the passport is one of the core national symbols that represent Nigeria’s identity among other nations and must be preserved and respected at all costs.
