A total of 335 foreign nationals were on Tuesday granted citizenship by the Federal Government in Abuja after statutory clearance and due diligence by the relevant security agencies.
The certificate of citizenship was presented to the foreigners by the Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, while he charged them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria.
Adams Oshiomhole’s wife, Lara, who he married from Cape Verde, is one of the recipients.
Dambazau revealed that 335 applicants were approved by the Federal Executive Council in January, out of the over 500 foreigners that applied.
He said 245 of the certificate recipients were granted Citizenship by Naturalisation while 90 were by Registration, mainly foreign women married to Nigerians.
According to him, “Let me say that application for the Citizenship of Nigeria which can be by Naturalisation or Registration is provided for in Chapter 3, Sections 26 and 27 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’’ the minister explained.
The minister said that the approval was part of government’s effort on the “Ease of doing business in Nigeria” and boosting Nigeria’s image in line with international best practice.
He further tasked the “new Nigerian citizens” to be of good conduct, respect the rights and customs of their communities and contribute to the development of Nigeria.
