Thread by @MinOfInteriorNG

How To Become A Nigerian Citizen

The Procedure for acquiring the Nigerian citizenship has been spelt out in Chapter III of the Nigerian Constitution. #HowToBecomeANigerian

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However, before we go into the various ways of acquiring Nigerian Citizenship as prescribed by the law, we must define who a citizen is. #HowToBecomeANigerian

A Citizen is one who is a legally recognised subject or national of a state or commonwealth, either native or naturalized.

Citizens of Nigeria enjoy rights guaranteed in the constitution and also have obligations to discharge to the country. #HowToBecomeANigerian

There are three different ways of acquiring the Nigerian citizenship namely;

A. Citizenship by Birth

B. Citizenship by Registration and

C. Citizenship by Naturalization.

#HowToBecomeANigerian

Citizenship by Birth (Section 25 of the Nigerian Constitution)

(a) every person born in Nigeria before the date of independence, either of whose parents or any of whose grandparents belongs or belonged to a community indigenous to Nigeria. #HowToBecomeANigerian

(b) every person born in Nigeria after 1/10/1960 either of whose parents or any of whose grandparents is a citizen of Nigeria; and

(c) every person born outside Nigeria either of whose parents is a citizen of Nigeria.

#HowToBecomeANigerian

Citizenship by Registration (Section 26 of the Nigerian Constitution)

1. A person may be registered as a citizen of Nigeria, if the President is satisfied that- he is of good character; he has shown a clear intention of his desire to be domiciled in Nigeria #HowToBecomeANigerian

(Cont’d) ...he has taken the Oath of Allegiance prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to this Constitution. #HowToBecomeANigerian

2. The provisions of section 26 shall apply to - (a) any woman who is or has been married to a citizen of Nigeria; or (b) every person of full age and capacity born outside Nigeria any of whose grandparents is a citizen of Nigeria. #HowToBecomeANigerian

Citizenship by Naturalisation (Section 27 of the Nigerian Constitution)

1. Subject to the provisions of section 28, any person who is qualified in accordance with the provisions of this section may apply to the President for a certificate of naturalisation #HowToBecomeANigerian

2 No person shall be qualified to apply for naturalisation, unless he satisfies the President that - he is a person of full age and capacity; he is a person of good character; he has shown a clear intention of his desire to be domiciled in Nigeria; #HowToBecomeANigerian

He is, in the opinion of the Governor of the State where he is or he proposes to be resident, acceptable to the local community in which he is to live permanently, and has been assimilated into the way of life of Nigerians in that part of the Federation; #HowToBecomeANigerian

He is a person who has made or is capable of making useful contribution to the advancement; progress and well-being of Nigeria; he has taken the Oath of Allegiance prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to this Constitution; and #HowToBecomeANigerian

He has, immediately preceding the date of his application, either- (i) resided in Nigeria for a continuous period of fifteen years; #HowToBecomeANigerian

Or (ii) resided in Nigeria continuously for a period of twelve months, and during the period of twenty years immediately preceding that period of twelve months has resided in Nigeria for periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than fifteen years. #HowToBecomeANigerian

The Ministry of Interior located in Old Federal Secretariat, Abuja is charged with overseeing issues of citizenship in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

You can visit interior.gov.ng for more information.

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