Oshiomhole's Wife Gets Nigerian Citizenship Alongside 334 Other Foreigners

A total of 335 foreign nationals were on
Tuesday in Abuja granted citizenship by the
Federal Government after statutory clearance
and due diligence by the relevant security agencies.

The Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen.
Abdulrahman Dambazau, who presented the
certificates of citizenship to the foreigners, charged them to be good ambassadors of
Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that
Mrs Lara Oshiomhole, Wife of former Governor
of Edo, Adams Oshiomole, who is from Cape Verde, is one of the recipients.

Dambazau in his remarks said that 335 applicants were approved by the Federal
Executive Council (FEC) in January, out of the
over 500 foreigners that applied.
He explained that 245 of the foreigners approved were granted Citizenship by
Naturalisation while 90 were by Registration,
mainly foreign women married to Nigerians.

“Let me say that application for the Citizenship of Nigeria which can be by Naturalisation or
Registration is provided for in Chapter 3,
Sections 26 and 27 of the 1999 Constitution of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’’ the minister explained.

The minister said that the approval was part of
government’s effort on the “Ease of doing
business in Nigeria” and boosting Nigeria’s
image in line with international best practice.
He tasked the “new Nigerian citizens” to be of
good conduct, respect the rights and customs
of their communities and contribute to the development of Nigeria.

Damabazau said the last time such ceremony
was conducted was in December, 2013 and
pledged to ensure its sustenance on an annual
basis for proper scrutiny.
Dr Lamabert Shumbusho, from Rwanda, who responded on behalf of the recipients, thanked
the Federal Government and pledged their
loyalty and commitment to the development of Nigeria.

NAN reports other recipients include nationals
from Lebanon, Syria, Pakistan, China and some
African countries, most of whom are business moguls who have been operating in Nigeria for
years.

The Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria
Immigration Service (NIS) are charged with the
responsibility of processing applications for
Naturalisation from foreign nationals who have
stayed/lived in Nigeria for a minimum of 15
years and those by Registration who are mainly married to Nigerians. (NAN)