The National Orientation
Agency (NOA) has urged Nigerians to join hands with the government to transform the country.
The Rivers State Director of the agency, Mr Oliver Wollugbom who said this at a one day programme on National Security Awareness organized by Real Strikes Security Services Limited in Port Harcourt also said that the security of lives and property must be the collective responsibility of all.
Mr Wollugbom whose paper was entitled, “Citizenship and Patriotism” also stressed the need for respect to constituted authorities.
“The issue of patriotism appears to have gone with the wind in Nigeria as our values and attitude centre on ego, tribalism and ethnicity rather than nationalism and patriotism”, he said.
According to him, “The National Orientation Agency therefore urges Nigerians to do the right thing to transform Nigeria.
“Government agencies especially security agencies also need to do the right thing to transform Nigeria,” he said.
In his opening speech, the Executive Director of Real Strikes Security Limited, Dr Joseph E. Emeh, attributed the series of violence on the country to failure of leadership.
Dr Ameh also said that the teeming population of unemployed youths had become a breeding ground for mercenaries of violent conflicts.
He said that the event which held simultaneously across the country was to sensitise Nigerians on the need for peaceful elections.
“This nationwide seminar and public enlightenment campaign has come at the right time.
“There is the urgent need on the part of well-meaning Nigerians to speak with one voice to stem this ugly tide,” he said.