FG rebukes Kemi Badenoch over Nigerian citizenship comment
The Federal Government, through the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), has strongly dismissed recent claims by UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch regarding Nigeria’s citizenship laws.
NIDCOM Chairperson, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, labeled Badenoch’s comments as “misleading” and “completely false” during an appearance on Hard Copy, a Channels Television programme aired on Friday.
Badenoch, a British politician of Nigerian descent, had claimed in an interview that Nigerian law bars women from passing citizenship to their children. Dabiri-Erewa, however, refuted this assertion, citing constitutional evidence.
“But that is not true,” she said. “Don’t spread falsehoods. You go on international media and spin a lie — that’s completely false. And I’m sure many have responded.”
She referenced Section 25(1)(c) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, which states that any person born outside Nigeria is entitled to citizenship if either parent is a Nigerian — regardless of the parent’s gender.
Dabiri-Erewa cautioned public figures against tarnishing Nigeria’s image on global platforms. While emphasizing the country’s appreciation for its diaspora community, she stressed that misrepresenting the nation will not be tolerated.
“You can’t lie about your country and expect everyone to stay silent,” she stated. “There are many Nigerians thriving politically abroad — we don’t have to focus on one individual.”
Badenoch’s controversial remarks included:
> “It’s virtually impossible, for example, to get Nigerian citizenship. I have that citizenship by virtue of my parents. I can’t give it to my children because I’m a woman.”
She further claimed that it is easier for Nigerians to obtain British citizenship than for foreigners to become Nigerian citizens, adding, “We need to stop being naive.”
Dabiri-Erewa insisted that such statements distort the reality of Nigeria’s laws and should be publicly corrected.
“This isn’t about me, or the President, or you — it’s about Nigeria,” she said. “We must challenge misinformation wherever it arises.”
The controversy has ignited widespread debate on social media, with many Nigerians backing NIDCOM’s response and urging clearer public understanding of the country’s diaspora policies.
