My children cannot inherit Nigerian citizenship because I am a woman

Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Conservative Party, has revealed that his children cannot gain Nigerian citizenship through him because of what he described as gender-based restrictions in Nigerian citizenship law.

Speaking during an interview with Fareed Zakaria in CNN, Badenoch used his personal experience to underline what he called inconsistency and imbalance in the global immigration system, especially between Britain and countries like Nigeria.

“For example, for example, to get Nigerian citizenship,” he said. “I have citizenship based on my parents, I can’t give it to my children because I am a woman.”

Badenoch, who was born in England from Nigerian parents and spent part of his childhood in Lagos, criticized what he saw as a relief of punishment within the British immigration framework. He argues that Britain has, too long, makes it too easy for people to obtain citizenship, in contrast to more stringent policies in many countries from which immigrants arrive.

“But many Nigerians come to England and stay for a relatively free period of time, gaining British citizenship. We must stop being naive,” he said.

“That is why under my leadership, we now have a policy to make it more difficult to get British citizenship. It’s too easy.”

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Expected whether he will support the efforts by immigrants to re-create the “Mini-Nigerian” community in England in the name of cultural expression or integration, Badenoch firmly rejects the idea.

“That’s not true. Nigeria will not tolerate that,” he said. “It’s not something that many countries will accept. There are many people who come to our country, to Britain, who do things that are not acceptable to their country.”

Badenoch’s statement has triggered a new debate about gender equality in national law and broader challenges of immigration policy reforms.