Security Expert, Otunba Adegbenro, Condemns Flagrant Display Of Grenada, Turkey's Citizenship Advert At Abuja Airport

Otunba Adegbenro

ABUJA - A security and weapon expert, Otunba Adejare Adegbenro has expressed dissatisfaction over the outdoor advertisement display of foreign countries citizenship at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Adegbenro stressed that, advertising citizenship of other countries at the Abuja airport with the inscription: "obtain and enjoy the citizenship of Vanuatu, Grenada and Turkiye" portends great danger for the stability of the country.

He explained that, the conspicuous placement of such adverts at the airport is not only indecent, but quite unpatriotic.

He emphasized that, emigrating temporarily or permanently is one of the fundamental human rights of every citizen in a democratic nation like Nigeria, according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 in Article 13.

He, however, questioned the desirability of Nigerians being enticed, induced or even deceived to dump their fatherland for other countries through citizenship adverts in a public facility. 

The Ads at the airport

"I was at the airport where I observed the flagrant display of the flex banner at the International departure section of the airport.

"The airport is the gateway in and out of the country, and it speaks volumes about our image. Therefore, the conspicuous placement of such adverts at the airport is not only indecent but quite unpatriotic.

Emigrating temporarily or permanently is one of the fundamental human rights of every citizen in a democratic nation like Nigeria, according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 in Article 13. 

"However, it leaves much to be desired if Nigerians are being enticed, induced or even deceived to dump their fatherland for other countries through citizenship adverts in a public facility. I doubt if Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) or the Department of Outdoor Advertising and Signage, an agency of the Federal Capital Territory Authority endorsed this advert or the placement at the international departure section of the airport. 

"As it were, one of the mandates of APCON or any signage agency is to ensure "that every advertisement shall be honest, legal, decent and truthful". The aforesaid is not decent enough for a country who needs its skilled workers as a bastion of development.

"Apart from the unsuitability of the advert at one of the busiest airports in Nigeria, it is distasteful to know a public facility is now an avenue for traveling agencies to promote their trade which, possibly, could be an attempt to fleece innocent Nigerians.

"The information online on emigrating from one country to another as well as the sponsored posts/adverts of traveling agents/agencies should be enough for anyone that wishes to leave the country. Thus, outdoor advertising of such particularly at the airport is untoward and condemnable."

Adegbenro, therefore, called on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Ministry of Aviation and the Minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed to ensure that the airports or public facilities do not serve as avenues to promote unverified, unsuitable, unapproved, indecent or unpatriotic products or services.