By Augustine Okezie
Abuja
The Hotel Owners Forum Abuja (HOFA) has chosen the first day of June to hoist the newly launched centenary flag in commemoration of Nigeria’s 100 years of existence as an entity.
This was revealed yesterday by the president, Engr. Oniofiok Ekong to newsmen in Abuja when the forum hosted the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to its meeting.
“Hoteliers in Abuja have chosen today to fly the centenary flag in all hotels starting from June 1. It is all about commitment to our dear country and other countries will see and learn.”, he said.
While stating that the gesture is done towards uplifting the country, Ekong reiterated that the “Issue of price for the flag does not arise as a patriotic Nigerian. We owe our country responsibility and we are going to help in keeping it.”
The director-general of NOA, Mr Mike Omeri, disclosed that even though punitive measures have not been put in place to deal with government offices who do not comply with the directive to hoist the flag, Nigerians should imbibe the culture of putting them in their homes and offices.
The DG who was represented by the director for special duties, Ms Ngozi Ekeoba, said the centenary flag which is to stand side by side the national flag is used in “Preaching peace due to the current insecurity challenges the nation is facing”.
Already, the agency has written to all federal, state and local government establishments urging them to buy and hoist the flag and imbibe a lasting culture of respect for the national identity.