The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially refuted the recent assertion made by Kemi Badenoch, a prominent figure in the UK Conservative Party, concerning Nigeria’s citizenship laws.
The government described her claim that Nigerian law prevents women from transmitting citizenship to their children as not only inaccurate but also misleading.
Ms. Badenoch, who currently serves as the UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, made the comment during an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria on Sunday. In the discussion, she lamented that, despite her Nigerian heritage, she is unable to confer Nigerian citizenship on her children simply because she is a woman.
She was quoted saying: “Many Nigerians are taking advantage of the UK’s relatively easy citizenship acquisition process, but it remains virtually impossible to get Nigerian citizenship. I had that citizenship by virtue of my parents; I can’t give it to my children because I’m a woman.”
Reacting to this claim, the spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, expressed deep concern, categorically stating that Badenoch’s narrative is factually incorrect and misleading to the public.
Ebienfa clarified that Nigeria’s Constitution explicitly permits both male and female citizens to pass on citizenship to their children, regardless of gender.
He referenced Section 25 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which provides for citizenship by descent to children born outside the country, provided that either parent — father or mother — is a Nigerian citizen.
“This is a false and very disturbing narrative because Section 25 of the Nigerian Constitution allows citizenship by descent to children born abroad if either parent is a Nigerian citizen, with no gender distinction,” Ebienfa stated in a comment to The Nation.
The Ministry further urged public figures and influential personalities to ensure they verify sensitive legal information before making public statements that could misinform the international community and tarnish the country’s image.
By issuing this clarification, the Nigerian government reaffirmed its commitment to gender equality in citizenship rights, in line with both constitutional provisions and international human rights standards.