In the spirit of the National Ordinance Day, the National Orientation Agency has called on Nigerians to respect Nigeria’s national symbols.
The agency’s director in Kaduna, Hamisu Mayere, made the call on Wednesday in a statement.
The national symbols include the national flag, Nigerian currencies, coat of arms, national anthem, and the constitution.
It said the agency joined other Nigerians to celebrate the day, which since 2012 is marked on September 16 of every year.
It explained that the celebration was to commemorate the date of the formal handing over of the symbols of Nigeria’s nationhood and sovereignty to the indigenous government by the then-colonial authority.
The statement also explained that distorting or mutilating any symbols constitutes an offence punishable by the laws of the land as enshrined in the constitution.
NOA urged Nigerians always to exhibit Nigeria’s core values of patriotism, religious tolerance, discipline, self-reliance, the dignity of labour, integrity, honesty, and social justice in whatever they do.
According to the statement, this would bring about peaceful coexistence and progress in Nigeria.
(NAN)