Dada Olusegun, a presidential aide, has criticized Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK Conservative Party, for her recent comments regarding Nigerian citizenship. In an interview with CNN, Badenoch claimed that as a Nigerian woman, she cannot pass her citizenship to her children, contrasting it with the ease of acquiring British citizenship.
Olusegun accused Badenoch of spreading misinformation, stating that Nigerian law allows citizenship by birth to be passed on by either parent, regardless of gender. He cited Section 25(1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution, emphasizing that children born to Nigerian parents outside the country are citizens by birth.
Badenoch, who was born in the UK to Nigerian parents and spent part of her childhood in Lagos, faced backlash for her remarks. Olusegun urged public figures to be cautious and avoid misrepresenting Nigeria’s laws. Legal experts have confirmed that Nigerian citizenship can indeed be passed on by either parent, refuting Badenoch’s claims.
