Contrary to Kemi Badenoch’s claim, Nigeria guarantees equal citizenship rights to children of both mothers and fathers
In recent days, comments made by UK Member of Parliament, Nigerian born Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch, shortened Kemi Badenoch, have stirred controversy, not just for what was said, but for the damaging falsehoods they spread about Nigeria’s citizenship laws.
In an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, just past the 3:52 mark, Ms Badenoch made a series of deeply problematic remarks.
After controversially suggesting that some cultures, specifically those that reject LGBTQ rights, are “inferior,” she pivoted to Nigeria. There, she claimed that as a woman, she is unable to pass on Nigerian citizenship to her children born abroad, adding that it was “virtually impossible to obtain Nigerian citizenship.”
Both claims are false
Ms Badenoch statement misrepresents Nigerian law and risks perpetuating harmful stereotypes.
Her assertion not only misrepresents the facts but undermined a constitutional reality that affirms the very values she accuses Nigeria of lacking: fairness, inclusivity, and equality.
Nigeria’s commitment to inclusive citizenship is firmly enshrined in the 1999 Constitution. Section 25(1)(c) clearly states that a person born outside Nigeria is a citizen by birth if either of their parents—father or mother—is a Nigerian citizen. This clause is not up for debate. It is law.
In fact, Nigeria’s constitution grants women and men equal rights in transmitting citizenship, placing it ahead of at least 27 countries, where maternal transmission remains restricted.
Ms Badenoch’s use of personal anecdote, claiming she cannot give her children Nigerian citizenship “because [she’s] a woman”, was particularly troubling. Not because it revealed a private frustration, but because it peddles an inaccuracy to a global audience, at a time when misinformation has real and measurable consequences.
Let us be clear: citizenship is not just a bureaucratic label—it is a powerful expression of identity, belonging, and legal recognition. When public officials mischaracterise its accessibility or its principles, especially from a position of heritage, they don’t just erode facts; they chip away at a nation’s dignity.
This isn’t the first time Ms Badenoch has voiced strong views on immigration. Having migrated to the UK at 16, she has since become a vocal advocate for stricter British immigration laws. But to anchor that argument in a flawed depiction of her country of origin, Nigeria, is both disingenuous and disappointing.
Her comments have rightly sparked backlash. Former Nigerian Senator Shehu Sani and the federal government have labelled her remarks “deeply regrettable.” But this moment calls not just for public rebuttal, it demands a collective reaffirmation of the truth.
Nigerians, both at home and in the diaspora, continue to shape and enrich societies around the world. From doctors in the NHS to entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley, creatives in Nollywood to researchers in European labs, they embody resilience, excellence, and deep-rooted connection to homeland. Their citizenship, and the laws that uphold it, deserve accurate representation, not distortion.
Of course, Nigeria is not without its challenges. No country is. But where progress has been made, especially in areas like gender parity in citizenship, it should be recognized, not erased to score political points abroad.
Criticism is the lifeblood of democracy. But it must be grounded in fact. Anything less is not critique, it’s misrepresentation.
And patriotism? It isn’t silence in the face of flaws. It is the courage to defend truth when it’s under threat, especially from those who ought to know better.
Nigeria’s Constitution speaks for itself. So should we.