NOA DG condemns woman for tearing husband’s international passport at Lagos airport

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has issued a strong condemnation of the actions of Mrs. Favour Igiebor, who allegedly tore her husband’s international passport at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos. The Director General of the Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, has called the act an affront to the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In a press release, Mallam Issa Onilu emphasized that the international passport, issued by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), is the property of the Federal Government and must not be damaged or abused under any circumstances. He stated, “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.”

The NOA, as part of its national identity project campaign, particularly in relation to national symbols, will back the NIS in investigating and prosecuting this breach in accordance with section 10 (B) of the Immigration Act, 2015. This is intended to serve as a deterrent to anyone who might contemplate damaging an important national symbol such as the international passport.

Mallam Issa Onilu appealed to all citizens to respect national symbols as a part of their patriotic duty towards national development. He asserted that the NOA, as the custodian of these symbols, will continue to promote their use and integrity. The incident, he noted, underscores the need for increased public enlightenment and awareness campaigns regarding the significance of national symbols.

“The passport is one of the core national symbols enshrined in the nation’s ordinance as a patriotic icon representing our country, especially among the nations,” said Mallam Issa Onilu. He stressed that this unfortunate event calls for a collective effort to educate the public on the importance of respecting national symbols.

The NOA’s stance reflects the broader commitment to preserving the dignity and value of national symbols, which are integral to the identity and unity of Nigeria. By addressing such breaches decisively, the Agency aims to reinforce the importance of these symbols and ensure they are treated with the respect they deserve.

Paul Odenyi, Deputy Director of Press, reiterated the Agency’s dedication to this cause and called on all Nigerians to join in efforts to uphold the integrity of the country’s national symbols.