By AUSTIN OGWUDA
Asaba — THE significance of the Nigerian national flag which is the symbol of authority and an important national symbol is fast being rubbished in Delta State as some corporate organizations either hang dirty and torn flags or don’t even bother to hang one in front of their offices as ought to be.

Vanguard investigation revealed that flag which is obtained at an affordable cost of N12 only was being shunned by some government and corporate bodies and some of the political parties due to lack of patriotism or ignorance.

A visit round some of the corporate bodies showed that even when the flag is displayed, it is either the flag is in tatters or left there all day instead of hoisting it between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

For instance, the national flag is missing in the front of Bank of Industry located on Okpanam Road, Asaba, and several corporate outfits in the city.

A National Orientation Agency (NOA) official, who pleaded anonymity, confided in our reporter that “it is really absurd that many government and corporate organisations do not hoist the national flag. In fact, some of them do not even to get the correct specification and actual colour”.

According to handbook produced by NOA on the Nigerian National Flag Law, “the law makes it an offence for the National Flag to be improperly used or display.

”Section 5 of the Flag and Coat-of-Arms Ordinance No. 48 of 1960 states that any persons who flies or exhibits the National Flag in a defaced or bad condition shall be guilty of an offence against this Ordinance”.

Although the Democracy Day was celebrated throughout the country including Delta State but as the NOA official said,  “we are yet to imbibe the spirit of partriotism.

Some time ago, this office went round to sensitize the people on the issue of having the natinal flag hoisted in front of the offices but how many of the coroporate bodies yielded. It is a problem of mind set,” she concluded.