BY BIRTH

Welcome to our publication on the Citizenship Series. Today, we’d be starting off with Citizenship by Birth as provided for in Section 25 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)

6Citizenship by birth is a popular and well known mode or method of being ascribed as a citizen of Nigeria.

Often times, a number of people believe they understand what citizenship by birth entails, but in actual sense, they don’t! And this is why Knowledge Tent is here for you, to debunk the erroneous teaching of this aspect of Citizenship.

What then does Nigerian Citizenship by Birth entails?

In Nigeria, our Citizenship is guided by the doctrine of Jus Sanguinis which explains that a child’s citizenship is determined by the his/her ancestry (Parents of Grandparents)

The Constitution of Nigeria does not recognize the principle of Jus Soli which signifies that a child’s a citizen of a country by merely being born in that country.

So, by virtue of Section 25 of the 1999 CFRN, a citizen by birth is one who:

• Was born in Nigeria before the date of independence and if either of his/her Parents or grandparents were/are members of an indigenous community in Nigeria;

NB: the date of independence is the 1st of October 1960 and an indigenous community simply means a native community existing before the date of Independence e.g Igbo Community, Yoruba Community etc.

However, for such an individual under this category the parent or grandparent must have been born in Nigeria.

• Was born after the date of independence to parents or grandparents who are citizens of Niegria by birth; and
• Was born outside of Nigeria to parents who are Nigerian citizens by birth

It is only where an individual falls within the laid down provisions explained above that it can be said that he/she is a Nigerian Citizen andd in order to acquire the title of being a citizen by birth in Nigeria, one must have a blood relation with an individual who is a Nigerian Citizen by birth.

Thank you for another engaging the session!

Until next time, enforce your rights as a Nigerian Citizen!!!

Writer: Olayinka Aderinwale

Editor: Esther Ude