Groups Seek Law Against Abuse Of National Flag

The National Assembly has been called upon to pass a bill that will ensure that individuals,  groups, corporate organisations and others are sanctioned for abusing the Nigeria National  Flag.

The groups, The Building Our National Image Flag Project, BONI and the Partnership For A New  Nigeria, PFANN, an offshoot of Elishama Ideh Foundation lamented that in most institutions,  the national flag was being grossly abused and called for a legislation to curb such abuse.

Addressing a news conference in Lagos, Nigeria to flag off campaign for the national flag  under the slogan Light the Touch, Raise your Flag for a New Nigeria, the groups also called  on all Nigerians at home and in diaspora to raise a flag and sing the two stanzas of the  National Anthem and ending it with the phrase God bless Nigeria by 12.00 noon on 1 October,  2010 in solidarity with and honour to the nation.

National Coordinator, BONI, Solanke Akinola said that 50 years of independence, the nation  has become an object of scorn, disregard and disrespect flying tattered national flags on  rusted poles in “our schools, banks, government and public buildings.”

“We call on the Federal Government and the legislators to review with immediate effect our  existing laws and make provisions to allow a fine and punishment of offenders who treat our  flags otherwise.

“We call on the Federal Government and the legislators to as a matter of national importance  commence all processes that will ensure the passage of the Nigerian Flag Day bill which will  make 30 September of every year our national flag and patriots day,” he stated.

Akinola also called on all government offices, corporate and private companies to stop the  abuse of the Nigerian flag in front of their offices adding, “they should join this campaign  by flying a new Nigerian flag from 27 September and 1 October, 2010 in solidarity with  Nigeria at 50.”

He further called on all media outfits in the country, especially radio and television,  through the National Broadcasting Commission and the Federal Ministry of Information and  Communication to participate in the project by suspending transmission and playing the first  and second stanzas of the national anthem by 12 noon on 1 October.

According to him, the Federal and state governments should include the campaign against the  abuse of the national flag in their1 October Independence programme giving all Nigerians the  opportunity to participate in the singing of the anthem by 12 noon.

Founder, PFANN, Evangelist Elishama Ideh said the objective of the Light the Touch, Raise  your Flag for a new Nigeria campaign was to primarily engage and inspire participation of  all Nigerians both home and abroad to be part of “this one in a life time jubilee  celebration.”

“Lighting the torch is also another way of saying a new day has come for Nigeria and raising  of the flag by all to sing the anthem is an agreement by the people as torches are lit to  spark/activate or light up a celebration.