The Federal Government has dismissed as false and misleading the recent claims by British Conservative Party Leader, Kemi Badenoch, that Nigerian law prevents women from passing citizenship to their children.
Speaking on CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS, Badenoch – whose parents are Nigerian – stated she could not confer Nigerian citizenship on her children because she is a woman. She also described obtaining Nigerian citizenship as “virtually impossible.”
But Nigerian authorities have come out strongly against the statement.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, said Badenoch’s comments “lack veracity” and contradict the Nigerian Constitution. Ebienfa clarified that Section 25 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) makes provision for citizenship by descent, regardless of whether the Nigerian parent is male or female.
In his reaction, Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga took to his verified X account, describing Badenoch’s claim as false.
“Kemi Badenoch lied. She owes her fatherland some apology,” Onanuga wrote. “Britain should send our lost daughter home for proper re-education.”
He went further to cite Section 25 of the Constitution, emphasizing the provision that any child born outside Nigeria is entitled to citizenship if either parent is a Nigerian. That includes mothers.
Onanuga quoted:
“25. (1)(c) Every person born outside Nigeria either of whose parents is a citizen of Nigeria.”
The Presidency insists the law is clear and does not discriminate by gender.
The sharp rebuke from Nigerian officials points to a larger concern – how prominent voices represent Nigeria on the global stage, especially concerning sensitive legal and national identity issues.
