Kemi Badenoch Claims She Can’t Pass Nigerian Citizenship
- Admin
- Jul 21
- 2 min read
Kemi Badenoch, the United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Business and Trade and a prominent figure in the Conservative Party, has stirred public debate with a recent claim regarding Nigeria’s citizenship laws. In a candid interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, aired on Sunday, July 20, Badenoch alleged that it is "virtually impossible" for her children to acquire Nigerian citizenship because she is a woman.
During the segment, the UK minister criticized what she sees as Britain's overly permissive immigration policies, contrasting them with the stricter systems in countries like Nigeria. She argued that many migrants behave in ways abroad that would not be tolerated in their home countries, particularly Nigeria.
"There are many people who come to the UK who do things that would not be acceptable in their countries," she said.
When asked about allowing a Nigerian immigrant to establish a "mini-Nigeria" within the UK as part of cultural preservation or integration, Badenoch responded firmly:
"That is not right. Nigerians would not tolerate that. That’s not something many countries would accept."
The heart of her claim, however, centered on her inability as a woman to pass on Nigerian citizenship to her children.
“It’s virtually impossible to get Nigerian citizenship,” she said. “I have that citizenship by virtue of my parents, but I can’t give it to my children because I’m a woman.”
This statement has drawn swift criticism and fact-checking from legal experts and civil society groups in Nigeria, who argue her interpretation of the law is incorrect. According to Section 25(1)(c) of the Nigerian Constitution, a person born outside Nigeria is a Nigerian citizen by birth if either of their parents is a citizen of Nigeria regardless of the parent's gender.
Section 25(1)(c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) clearly states:
"Every person born outside Nigeria either of whose parents is a citizen of Nigeria shall be a citizen of Nigeria."
Legal analysts have clarified that there is no gender-based restriction in this clause. Whether the Nigerian parent is the mother or the father, citizenship rights are equally transmissible.
Badenoch’s comments have sparked reactions across social and traditional media, with many Nigerians expressing dismay that a political figure of her stature would misrepresent her country’s constitution on an international platform.
Critics also argue that the statement reinforces harmful stereotypes about Nigeria's legal system and diminishes the country’s progress on gender equality.
On the flip side, some commentators note that while the law may be clear, bureaucratic challenges and inconsistent implementation might contribute to the perception that acquiring citizenship is difficult, particularly through a maternal line.
While Kemi Badenoch’s broader critique of immigration policy might resonate with some in the UK, her statements about Nigerian citizenship laws have been widely challenged. Her claim that she cannot transmit her nationality to her children because she is a woman contradicts Nigeria’s constitutional provisions and risks spreading misinformation about citizenship rights and gender equity in Nigeria.
As a rising political figure with Nigerian roots, Badenoch’s words carry weight. Her remarks underscore the need for accuracy and nuance when discussing the legal systems of other countries especially one’s own country of origin.
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