Shehu Sani Responds to Kemi Badenoch’s Remarks on Nigerian Citizenship Laws

Abuja — Former Nigerian senator Shehu Sani has responded to comments made by UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, who recently claimed that her children cannot acquire Nigerian citizenship due to her gender.

Speaking during an interview on Fareed Zakaria GPS aired on CNN, Badenoch said, “It’s virtually impossible, for example, to get Nigerian citizenship. I have that citizenship by virtue of my parents. I can’t give it to my children because I’m a woman.”

Reacting to the statement on Monday, July 21, 2025, Sani questioned Badenoch’s motives, referencing her past criticism of Nigeria. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “Why should Kemi Badenoch be bothered about getting a Nigerian citizenship for her offspring from a country she rebuked and rejected?… She should just enjoy her adopted home and leave us alone in our father’s home.”

However, legal experts and reports, including one from Premium Times, indicate that Section 25 of the Nigerian Constitution allows any person born outside Nigeria to be a citizen if either parent is a Nigerian citizen at the time of birth—regardless of gender. This provision directly contradicts Badenoch’s claim of gender-based restriction.

The exchange has drawn attention to ongoing discussions around dual citizenship, gender rights in nationality laws, and the evolving identity of Nigerians in the diaspora.