286 foreign nationals in all took the Oath of Allegiance to adopt Nigerian citizenship yesterday, including four Americans, 14 Britons, and 86 Lebanese.
President Muhammadu Buhari officiated the service at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) accepted a list of the 286 foreigners applying for Nigerian citizenship on February 9, 2022.
“You have pledged your allegiance to Nigeria. When you give your love and loyalty to Nigeria, she returns her love and loyalty to you,” the President told the news citizens.
According to President Buhari, 208 of the 286 foreign nationals who were presented with certificates of Nigerian citizenship received them through naturalization, while 78 received them through registration.
He asked the new residents to contribute positively and effectively to the development, progress, and welfare of the many communities in which they live.
President Buhari said: “You are expected to abide by the ideals and institutions of the Nigerian national flag, anthem, pledge and respect for all constituted authorities.
“All those concerned with Immigration matters are to offer our new citizens quick legal identification. Also, their local governments should assist with their integration in the local community to enable them enjoy all the entitlements of a Nigerian citizen.”
The President informed the new citizens that Nigeria is a nation bound by the principles of opportunity, equality, and liberty in exercising the constitutional powers granted to him by Chapter III Sections 25–31 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
President Buhari recalled how the National Action Plan to Eliminate Statelessness was adopted by the Federal Government in 2020.
A High-Level Steering Committee to Eradicate Statelessness in Nigeria by 2024, according to him, was established by Aregbesola.
The minister claimed that before being deemed qualified and deserving of Nigerian citizenship, the foreigners had through a number of exhaustive examinations by the country’s security services.
It was the first conferral ceremony since last year.
