The wife of the former Governor of Edo state, Iara Oshiomhole, has been granted Nigerian citizenship alongside 335 other foreign nationals.
Former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole and his wife, Mrs. Lara Oshiomhole
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.
Mrs Iara Oshiomhole, the 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 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.
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 are charged with the
responsibility of processing applications for Naturalization 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