Bayo Onanuga, media aide to President Bola Tinubu, has strongly responded to statements made by UK Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, regarding Nigeria’s citizenship laws. In an interview on CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS on Sunday, Badenoch claimed that her children were unable to obtain Nigerian citizenship due to a gender-based provision in Nigerian law, describing the situation as a form of legal discrimination against women.
Badenoch, while discussing immigration and citizenship policies across countries, cited Nigeria as an example of a nation where women are unfairly treated when it comes to transmitting citizenship to their children. The British minister described the law as “virtually impossible” for women seeking to pass Nigerian nationality to their offspring.
However, Onanuga swiftly rebuffed Badenoch’s claims, accusing her of misrepresenting Nigerian law. He pointed out that Section 25 of the Nigerian Constitution, which outlines the country’s citizenship provisions, does not discriminate based on gender. The section specifies that Nigerian citizenship is determined by the nationality of either parent, with the same rights given to both men and women in passing on citizenship.
Onanuga went further, stating, “Kemi Badenoch lied. She owes her fatherland some apology.” He urged the British minister to acknowledge the correctness of Nigeria’s constitutional framework and retract her misleading statements. Additionally, Onanuga thanked Nigerian-born Shola Shogbamimu for providing clarity on the issue, suggesting that Badenoch had been misinformed about the details of Nigerian citizenship law.
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Section 25 of the Nigerian Constitution reads in part: “Every person born outside Nigeria either of whose parents is a citizen of Nigeria” is eligible for Nigerian citizenship. The law, Onanuga argues, ensures equal rights for both men and women in passing citizenship onto their children, dismissing claims of discrimination.
The exchange underscores the ongoing debate surrounding citizenship laws and gender equality, highlighting how national legal frameworks can be misunderstood or misrepresented in international discourse. Onanuga’s response reinforces Nigeria’s stance that the law is equitable and in line with the country’s commitment to gender-neutral legal principles.