The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on Nigerians to honor the Nigerian Air Force personnel who lost their lives in an aircraft crash at Igbokoda, Ondo State, by observing the three-day national mourning declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The NOA Director-General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, described the crash as a painful loss to the nation, saying the fallen personnel represented courage, discipline, patriotism, and commitment to national service.
Issa-Onilu said the sacrifices of the deceased officers would not be forgotten, stressing that their service to the country and commitment to protecting Nigerians remained worthy of national honor and remembrance.
He stated that the agency would intensify efforts to ensure proper observance of the national flag during the mourning period, in accordance with the presidential directive that the flag be flown at half-mast.
According to him, the Nigerian flag is more than a national emblem; it represents the country’s sovereignty, unity, and shared identity.
The NOA boss urged Nigerians to use the mourning period to reflect on the sacrifices of members of the Armed Forces and the responsibility of citizens to uphold patriotism, national unity, and respect for the country’s national symbols.
He commiserated with the chief of the air staff, officers, and personnel of the Nigerian Air Force, as well as the families of the deceased, assuring them of the agency’s solidarity during the period of grief.
Issa-Onilu prayed for the peaceful repose of the souls of the fallen personnel and for God to grant their families, colleagues, and the Nigerian Air Force the strength and fortitude to bear the loss.
He reaffirmed NOA’s commitment to promoting national values, civic responsibility, and respect for Nigeria’s national symbols across the country.
Credit: von.gov.ng
