Citizenship: The Nigeria’s Perspective

A citizen is a legally recognised member of a
country with associated rights and obligations; A person can be a citizen either by birth, registration or naturalization. According to Sector 25 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the following persons are citizens of Nigeria by birth.
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.
b)Every person born in Nigeria after the date of independence either or whose parents or any of whose grandparents is a citizen of Nigeria.
c) Every person born outside Nigeria either of whose parents is a citizen of Nigeria.
Section 26 provides for citizenship by registration and it states thus; 26  (I) subject to the provisions of Section 28 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, a person to whom the provision of this section apply may be registered as a citizen of Nigeria if the president is satisfied that –
a) he is a person of good character
b) he has shown a clear intention of his desire to be domiciled in Nigeria, and
c) he as taken the Oath of Allegiance prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to the 199 Constitution; which says I, …………………do solemnly swear/affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegaiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and that I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Federal  Republic of Nigeria. So help me God.
See Section 26 (2) of the 1999 Constitution:- The provisions of this section 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.
For grant of citizenship by naturalization, the applicant must be a person of full age and capacity, a person of good character and has shown a clear intention of his desire to be domiciled in Nigeria; Also he must be 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. He is also expected to be one who has made or is capable of making useful contributions to the advancement, progress, well being of Nigeria and has also resided in Nigeria for a continuous period of fifteen years (see Section 27 of the 1999 Constitution as amended). To be naturalized, the applicant must of necessity take the oath of allegiance also.
It is worthy of note that there are restrictions on certain citizens. For instance, Section 307 of the 1999 Constitution provides that; notwithstanding any provision contained in chapter IV and subject to Section 131 of the 1999 Constitution, no citizen of Nigeria by registration or under a grant of certificate of naturalization shall within ten years of his registration or grant had any elective or appointive office under the constitution.

Nkechi Bright Ewere