FG grants ex-governor's wife Nigerian citizenship

dimeji akinloye

May 16, 2017 10:54 PM

Lara Oshiomhole, alongside 335 other foreign nationals were on Tuesday, May 16, granted citizenship by the Federal Government in Abuja.

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Former governor

Lara, alongside 335 other foreign nationals were on Tuesday, May 16, granted citizenship by the Federal Government in Abuja.

‎Oshiomhole's wife is originally from Cape Verde.

The recipients had been statutorily cleared by the relevant security agencies before they were granted the Nigerian citizenship.

The Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau,‎ presented the certificate of citizenship to the new Nigerians.

According to Dambazau, 335 applicants were approved by the Federal Executive Council in January, out of the over 500 foreigners that applied.

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He said 245 of the certificate recipients 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.

He said 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.

dimeji akinloye