[size=13pt]Group proposes 10 years jail term for abusers of national flag[/size]

By Chris Ochayi, Abuja

A bill seeking amendment to the 1960 National Flag to make room for stiffer penalty of ten years imprisonment against those who abuse the Nigerian national flag would soon be forwarded to the National Assembly.

Director General, Flag Foundation of Nigeria, FGN, Mr. Chris Agiri who disclosed this yesterday during the 51st birthday of the Nigerian national flag in Abuja, said the bill is seeking among other things, jail terms for individuals and organisations that either burn or flying tattered Nigerian flags within their premises.

Mr. Agiri said one of the reasons for the abuse of the flag is because of the weakness of national flag Act, adding, the penalty today is just a fine of N100, while penalty for same abuse of flag attracts life imprisonment in the United States of America, USA.

“Research has shown that Nigerian national flag is one of the best flag of the nations on earth, but ironically, it is the most abused national flag in the world.”

He noted that the bill specifically spelt out outright sack or dismissal for any head of organisations, which abuse the flag. According to him, burning of the national flag during protest is a crime and anybody found to be doing so will spend ten years behind the bar.

“Respect for national flag, is no indolence, it is a moral duty, a civil responsibility, a constitutional obligation and a national assignment.

“We therefore use this opportunity to propose that let the national flag of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, be given a name, let 16th of every September be marked by all as Flag Day, and let the national flag Act be amended to make room for stiffer penalty against those who abuse the flag.

“This flag, is the only property jointly owned by all Nigerians in equal capacity. It is therefore the burden duty of every patriotic Nigerian to protect it even with his or her last blood. The need to uphold the dignity of this flag cannot be over emphasized, as it represents the symbol of our great country.

“As we mark the 51st birthday of the existence of our national flag, for the first time in history, it must be recalled that the resolution of the parliament sitting in Lagos, the then capital of our great country, the Act that brought the national flag in existence was enacted.

“This Act originally known as Flags and Coat-of-Arms ordinance 48 of September 16th, 1960 placed the Ministry of Internal Affairs, now, Ministry of Interior as the supervisory and regulatory authority for the usage and protocol of the flag.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/group-proposes-10-years-jail-term-for-abusers-of-national-flag/

Looters are abusing the Nigerian flag everyday with their stealing and corruption.

Mr Agiri, this flag has been permanently tainted, it's better we punish looters like OBJ, IBB, Bankole, Anenih, and the Abacha Family to cleanse it.

People suddenly become billionaires with no evidence or any sensible history to support it and you are talking of flag.

Abeg, let's kumuma tear the flag and shiiit on it. Wetin remain nah?

What is special about flag,piece of coloured cloth.is morality not important than saluting flag?idolater.rubbish.

Pointless, u re talking about flag to our kids that are starving, unemployed youths, no electricity name them. it is meaningless cos our leaders (dictators) are failing us everyday, an American, British etc might understand what it a flag stands for but no me. With the situation of things in Nigeria now it is but a common piece of cloth to me and nothing else. Why not talk of our national anthem? Lets talk sometin meaningful and stop thinking of many ways to continue humiliating the poor masses, what ever bill or reforms is for the poor Nigerians.

GOD HELP NIGERIA, LET HIM INTERVENE THIS IS BEYOND HUMAN ACTIVITY.

:-D hehe green white green.
Green stands for agriculture, white stands for peace.
How many agricultural products are we still exporting as a country? Where is the peace? This country is bleeped!!!

:-D hehe green white green.
Green stands for agriculture, white stands for peace.
How many agricultural products are we still exporting as a country? Where is the peace? This country is bleeped!!!

Mr Agiri, protect the flag with you Last Blood, then, we will Join you. Stupid!

Our flag is not honoured because our leaders do not honour the country.

Loads of Oshi!!!!

Am now hapi that nobody can mess around with my country's flag.

Dis poster fall my hand. Abuse of National Flag shd attract life,dis group dey craze. If ordinary green white green = life imprisonment, wetin d likes of OBJ,IBB,TINUBU,IBORI etc go get as purnishment? Ordinary flag wey man pickin neva eat,no water,no electricity,no job. Even our leaders dey use our national flag wrap our money go abroad.

that 10 years should be for corrupt politicians not flag!!!!! nonsense!!!!

For Flag ok, then looters should be 25 years

Why should anybody waste our time with seeking punishment for desecrating the national flag?
We aren't running a dictatorship, neither can anybody be coerced not to show dissent by taking their frustration out on the flag.

While I will never burn or tear the flag, I would advice those who think such a triviality is the most burning issue facing Nigerians today to straighten their thinking. Make Nigerians happy first before dreaming about protecting an inanimate object (that is what it is to those who remain unhappy with our quality of life).

The current govt has a lot of brilliant plans that will make the average citizen proud and feel they belong, lets wait until they are delivered before launching into aimless distractions.

who paid this man to spew this rubbish? For heaven's sake, politicians and government authorities are looting this country dry everyday. Is that not enough abuse to the so-called 'National Flag'? As they say: 'When a fish wants to rot, it usually starts from the HEAD'.

Bring the politicians looticians of this country to Justice, then the Flag's already battered image would be redeemed.

.NET

This group should seek more national issues than routing for flag.

what would they do for those who abuse God, they caused gay and lesbianism and they protect flag interest and not interest of God,

unsmartpeople

That's the least of our problem at the moment.
Infact it's only when the Eagles play that i even remember our flag is green and white

OAM4J:

“Research has shown that Nigerian national flag is one of the best flag of the nations on earth, but ironically, it is the most abused national flag in the world.”

Heeheehee. *Jumps on the flag*

Seun:

unsmartpeople

Is that totalitarian censoring for the word 'idiots'?

M0r0ns in action.

and all this is while the man who designed the flag is homeless and destitute and can't get any aid from the government.
such hypocrisy.

Yeah, its stupid. A flag is not worth 10 years of anyone's life. And considering the state of Nigerian prisons, oh my.

Unemployment no gud.and dis guys will also be goin abt soliciting for fund 2 'run an ngo'?rubbish.