Kemi Badenoch: My Children Can’t Get Nigerian Citizenship Because I’m a Woman, Yet Nigerians Easily Become UK Citizens

British lawmaker and Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Kemi Badenoch, has expressed frustration over Nigeria’s nationality laws, stating that her children are unable to claim Nigerian citizenship simply because she is their mother. Badenoch, who is of Nigerian descent, said this gender-based restriction is outdated and unjust, especially in a time when many Nigerians are being granted British citizenship with fewer hurdles.

She noted that Nigeria’s citizenship law currently favors paternal lineage, meaning children can only inherit citizenship through their fathers. Badenoch described the situation as discriminatory and a reflection of systemic inequality that fails to recognize the rights and contributions of women, particularly those in the diaspora.

In contrast, she highlighted how the United Kingdom has streamlined and inclusive policies that allow foreign nationals, including Nigerians, to become citizens through various legal pathways. She urged Nigerian lawmakers to review and amend the country’s citizenship laws to reflect modern values of equality and fairness.

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