The Federal Government (FG) on Thursday, September 15, in Abuja conferred Nigerian citizenship to 286 foreigners including 86 Lebanese, 14 Britons, and four Americans.
The affected foreign nationals were conferred with the status of Nigerian citizenship by President Muhammadu Buhari following an approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The deserving persons who signed to be Nigerians, 208 were conferred citizenship status by naturalization.
The remaining 78 were conferred with the same status by registration after they officially recited the oath of allegiance and the Nigerian national pledge.
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Speaking at the event, Buhari directed the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to immediately issue the new Nigerians with certificates as appropriate.
This, he said, was to enable them to begin to enjoy the status conferred on them wherever they reside in the country.
Buhari urged them to endeavour to make positive contributions to the different communities they reside, and abide by the ideals of the nation.
The FG also said that the ceremony was a constitutional requirement aimed at removing the tag of “statelessness” on every bonafide citizen of the country.
Buhari admonished them to be good ambassadors of the country while reciprocating the love and acceptance from the Nigerian people.
According to the Nigerian leader, as they have become bonafide citizens of Nigeria, the nation’s history will become their own history.
He said that only deserving persons were accorded with the right to citizenship after a painstaking assessment from the FG.
What They Said
Some of the 286 foreigners conferred with Nigerian citizenship on Thursday, have explained why they chose to become Nigerians at a time the country was going through some challenges.
208 of them were conferred citizenship status by naturalization and the remaining 78 by registration.
A German businessman, Mr Hubertus Diers, explained why he chose to become a Nigerian after 42 years traversing the nooks and crannies of the country.
Dier, who runs a company, DIPOX’ Industrial Flooring Solutions, spoke after he was conferred with Nigerian citizenship at a ceremony held at the Federal Ministry of Interior, in Abuja.
The German is among the 286 foreigners including 86 Lebanese, 14 Britons, and four Americans conferred with Nigerian citizenship.
Diers explained that he applied for Nigerian citizenship over five years ago and was happy that his long time dream had come to fruition.
According to him, it will now be more easier to run his business and live with his family.
I have invested and founded a company in Nigeria. My first trip to Nigeria was in 1979; I have executed some projects in Umuahia, installing industrial floors for some companies and those floors are still in use till date.
Over 42 years now I have been living mainly in Nigeria, I have many other opportunities and offers, but I did not follow up.
In the 90s, I was in Ghana, but comparing its business life with that of Nigeria, it’s not the kind of country for my business.
He said that the number of years he had spent in Nigeria, business opportunities and the hospitable nature of Nigerians, made him to apply to become a Nigerian.
A Briton, Mr Jack Osankare, who has lived in Nigeria for about two decades, said he decided seek for Nigerian citizenship about 10 years ago, to enable him settle down as a Nigerian and go about his business seamlessly.
He expressed delight now that his dream has come through.
Nigeria is a country I so much love and would want to retire here. I love Nigerians because they are respectful, hospitable and treat foreigners like their brothers and sisters.
Another recipient, Mrs Darakhshan Khalid, a Pakistani, said she had been living in Nigeria over a decade ago shortly after getting married her Pakistani husband.
She also said that she had been struggling to become a citizen of Nigeria over the years, but to no avail until now.
I like everything about the country, its citizens, the environment generally. Nigerians are very accommodating and hospitable and I have always seen Nigeria as my second home.
