An American man married to a Nigerian woman has raised important concerns regarding perceived inequalities in Nigeria’s citizenship laws.
The couple recently discovered a significant disparity: while a Nigerian man can sponsor his foreign wife for citizenship immediately upon marriage, a Nigerian woman married to a foreigner must wait 15 years before her husband can apply for citizenship.
In a video, the American began by asking, “I beg, Naija people, make Oona tell me, how do I become Nigerian?”
He went on to explain his findings from online research, highlighting that the Nigerian constitution allows a Nigerian man to facilitate immediate citizenship for his foreign spouse, whereas a Nigerian woman must endure a lengthy 15-year waiting period for her foreign husband.
His wife expressed her surprise and frustration over the differing regulations.
“It’s really funny because we were reading about this. If I, as a Nigerian woman, marry a foreigner, my husband cannot become a Nigerian unless he lives here for 15 years. But if a Nigerian man marries a foreigner, his wife can apply for citizenship right away. Make it make sense,” she said.
The American husband echoed hiss sentiments, expressing disappointment over not being able to apply for citizenship immediately, particularly since they were planning to move to Nigeria for several years.
“In my country, you can apply immediately,” he noted, comparing it to U.S. citizenship laws. “Why shouldn’t I be able to travel freely in and out without stress? I don’t think that is right,” he added.
His wife suggested that they might have misunderstood the law and indicated the need for further clarification.
“I don’t know who has Tinubu’s DMs, his email, or his social media, but we should look into this. It’s not right,” he quipped.
The couple’s video has sparked a lively debate about the fairness of Nigeria’s citizenship laws.
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In response to their concerns, Hon. Akin Alabi, who chairs the House Committee on Works and represents the Egbeda/Ona Ara Federal Constituency, weighed in on Section 26 of the 1999 Constitution.
He criticized the current provision, deeming it discriminatory, and called for amendments to ensure equal rights for both men and women regarding citizenship transfer to spouses.
He stated, “Section 26 of the 1999 Constitution outlines the conditions under which people can become Nigerian citizens, including ‘any woman who is or has been married to a citizen of Nigeria.’ My proposal is to change this to ‘any person…’. My constitutional amendment bill on this issue has just passed the second reading.”
Alabi emphasized that if Nigeria chooses to allow citizenship through marriage, it should be equitable for all. “If we do not want to grant citizenship by marriage, that’s fine, but if we are going to do it, it shouldn’t be one-sided. Both men and women should have the ability to pass citizenship to their spouses.
This situation reflects Patriarchy and discrimination,” Alabi stated, noting that his constitutional amendment bill addressing this issue has recently passed its second reading. “I attempted to push this through during the 9th Assembly but fell short. I am determined to see it completed this time.”
He continued, “However, I must emphasize that constitutional amendments are challenging to accomplish.
While not impossible, the requirement for 24 Houses of Assembly to agree on the changes makes the process incredibly difficult. Nevertheless, we will persist in our efforts.”
