Reps Push Bill To Grant Nigerian Citizenship To Foreign Investors
The House of Representatives has advanced the Citizenship by Investment Bill, which seeks to grant Nigerian citizenship to foreign investors meeting specific financial thresholds or investing in critical sectors.
The bill, which passed its second reading on Wednesday, is part of ongoing constitutional amendments.
Sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and other lawmakers, the bill aims to attract foreign direct investment by offering nationality as an incentive.
House Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere presented the bill alongside other proposed amendments, including a bill to guarantee indigene status based on birth, continuous residence of at least ten years, or marriage.
The Indigenous Status Bill seeks to address discrimination in accessing social and economic benefits tied to state or local government origin.
According to its explanatory memorandum, the bill proposes amending Section 31 of the Principal Act by adding new subsections as follows:
“Alteration of Section 31 of the Principal Act is altered by inserting new subsections “(2) – (5).”
“(2) A citizen of Nigeria is an indigene of a State if he was born in that State and has lived in the State for a continuous period of at least 10 years; or was not born in the State but has resided in a Local Government Area of that State for a continuous period of at least 10 years and can provide evidence of tax payment in that State for at least 10 years.
“(3) A person under subsection (2) of this section is entitled to apply to the Local Government Chairman for a certificate of indigeneship of a State.
“4) A woman who is married to an indigene of a State different from her State of origin for at least five years becomes an indigene of that State and is entitled to all rights and privileges of an indigene of that State in cases of employment, appointment or election into any political or public office.
“5) In the case of divorce or death of a spouse, a woman remains an indigene if there were children born of the marriage or not; or she elects to remain an indigene of that State.”
Another proposed amendment seeks to review the death penalty, aligning Nigeria’s criminal justice system with global human rights standards while maintaining public safety.
Additionally, a bill aims to establish both the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federal Government.
It proposes a four-year term for the Accountant-General of the Federal Government, renewable once by the President, with tenure ending at age 60 or after 35 years of public service.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
