Nigeria Confers Citizenship on 385 Foreigners
By Boniface Ihiasota, USA
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has announced the conferment of Nigerian citizenship upon 385 foreign nationals from various continents during the 1st 2023 Conferment ceremony of Nigeria Citizenship by Naturalisation and Registration held in Abuja on Saturday.
Highlighting one of the objectives of the present administration, Minister Aregbesola emphasized the government’s commitment to establishing a strong socio-economic and political foundation that would position Nigeria as one of the world’s top 20 economies.
In line with this vision, the federal government aims to encourage and attract foreign investors, individuals with valuable skills, and talented individuals with boundless energy to the country.
Minister Aregbesola stated that the conferment ceremony granted Nigerian citizenship to 385 foreigners who had undergone rigorous vetting processes conducted by relevant state agencies, as stipulated by the constitution, and had fulfilled all statutory and administrative requirements.
He noted that the acquisition of Nigerian citizenship is a significant privilege and not all applicants are successful.
However, the high number of foreigners willing to become Nigerians indicates that the ongoing efforts to make Nigeria an attractive destination for investment and peaceful coexistence are yielding positive results.
Minister Aregbesola pointed out that the present administration has witnessed the largest number of foreigners being naturalized.
While 266 foreigners became Nigerians between 2011 and 2013, the numbers increased to 335 in 2017, 286 in the previous year, and now 385 at the current ceremony, making a total of 671 individuals acquiring Nigerian citizenship.
However, he expressed his dissatisfaction with these figures, citing that European and American countries grant citizenship to thousands of foreigners each year to attract young, talented individuals in their prime who can contribute to their countries’ development.
The minister acknowledged that the constitutional requirement of continuous residency in Nigeria for 15 years poses a significant obstacle to the smooth pathway to Nigerian citizenship.
He compared this with the five-year requirement in the United States and most European countries, emphasizing that this discrepancy acts as a disincentive.
Minister Aregbesola urged the relevant state institutions to consider amending the constitution to create easier pathways to citizenship for foreigners.
Highlighting a discriminatory aspect, the minister noted that while foreign wives of Nigerian men can automatically become citizens through registration, the same privilege is not available to foreign husbands of Nigerian women.
He expressed regret that this discrimination has deprived Nigeria of the potential benefits from this group of foreigners, urging the establishment of a registration pathway for them similar to what their counterparts enjoy.
Furthermore, Minister Aregbesola disclosed that the Interior Ministry has obtained approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to implement new pathways to permanent residency for eligible foreign nationals.
The ministry has been empowered to grant permanent residence to foreign nationals who have demonstrated exceptional talents, knowledge, and skills in rare fields such as Science, Technology, and Medicine.
The minister expressed optimism that this privilege would attract more talented individuals and resources to Nigeria, giving them the confidence and assurance to permanently settle in the country.
