Dabiri-Erewa Faults Badenoch On Nigerian Citizenship For Children

Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has criticised United Kingdom’s Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, over her recent claim that Nigerian law prevented her from passing citizenship to her children because she is a woman.

Dabiri-Erewa, speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Hard Copy, described Badenoch’s remarks as “misleading” and “entirely untrue.”

She argued that Badenoch’s claim was against Section 25(1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution, which says a person born outside Nigeria qualifies for citizenship if either parent is a Nigerian citizen.

“But that is not true. Don’t divulge false information. You go on international media and spin a lie — that is a lie — that is not even true. And I’m sure people have responded,” she said on Friday.

The diaspora chairman argued that denigrating one’s country publicly must be challenged, and while Nigeria supports its diaspora, no one can be forced to love their homeland.