By Oluwasore Alabi
The Federal Government has begun processing 170 applications by foreigners seeking Nigerian citizenship. Interior Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, revealed that the Advisory Committee on Nigerian Citizenship is reviewing the applications prior to forwarding recommendations to the President for approval.
Although the statement is seemingly a standard administrative matter, it speaks to a fine conversation: what does one really mean by being Nigerian, and who is one deserving of becoming part of this community of citizens? The Minister was firm in insisting that citizenship is a privilege gained on the grounds of good character, integrity, and legality. That is a powerful statement because Nigerians themselves have always questioned whether those values are ever implemented by people who are already well positioned in positions of influence and power within the nation.
Nigeria is such a great country of immense culture, resources, and global exposure, yet most of its people cannot envision the benefits of being part of it. Young professionals leave in droves as opportunities seem few and far between and government institutions have the tendency to fail them. It defies logic that while Nigerians are seeking better lives abroad, foreigners are coming in to be accepted as Nigerians. There is a time for self-reflection: what exactly are people elsewhere looking at that certain Nigerians have forgotten?
There is also the issue of national identity. Granting citizenship does not merely bestow a passport upon an individual. It allows him to vote, own property, influence the economy, and participate in national decision-making. This, therefore, means that screening must be rigorous, fair, and open. The Minister emphasized against individuals who pose security risks, something that is especially important given Nigeria’s ongoing insurgency, political instability, and cross-border crime.
But the process of selection should not also be tainted with favoritism or backroom political considerations. Citizenship should not be bought with money or influence. The majority of Nigerians fear that the final beneficiaries of citizenship are typically business people who are looking for economic benefits rather than cultural ties or civic loyalty. That is why the government must show to the people how the committee will scrutinize character, history, and motives. Transparency generates trust.
If Nigeria wishes to have high-integrity new citizens who will contribute positively, then it has to show that the government itself upholds the same values. A leadership which is supposed to be disciplined and accountable has to be modeled from the top. Not only are a nation’s identity formed by symbols like flags and anthems but also by how it treats its own members and would-be members in a fair and consistent manner.
In a time when the world is re-drawing borders, migration, and belonging, Nigeria can reinterpret what it stands for. Citizenship must not be easily given away, yet not defended by hypocrisy. The value of being Nigerian should come from the sense of experience of justice, security, dignity, and possibility.
If the government is serious about citizenship to be meaningful, then it should make Nigeria a nation where its own people are proud to stay, and not one where they are convinced that they must flee.
