Kemi Badenoch’s Citizenship Claim Sparks Global Firestorm

British Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has found herself at the center of a geopolitical controversy after asserting that, as a Nigerian woman, she cannot pass on her citizenship to her children—an explosive claim that has drawn widespread criticism and fact-checks from Nigerian legal experts.

In a revealing sit-down with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Badenoch compared the UK’s immigration system—criticized by some as too lenient—with Nigeria’s, which she implied is discriminatory based on gender. “It’s virtually impossible… I can’t give [Nigerian citizenship] to my children because I’m a woman,” she said. The statement was intended to bolster her argument for tougher UK immigration laws.

But almost immediately, Nigerian constitutional experts and immigration authorities refuted her claims as inaccurate and misleading.

Nigerian Law Says Otherwise

Under Section 25(1)(c) of the Nigerian Constitution, any child born outside Nigeria is a citizen by descent if either parent is Nigerian. Gender has no bearing on this provision.
Muhammed Babandede, former Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, reaffirmed: “There’s no law in Nigeria preventing a Nigerian woman from passing her citizenship to her child.”

Legal scholars argue that Badenoch’s misrepresentation of Nigerian citizenship policy may stem from outdated assumptions or a misunderstanding of dual nationality pathways.

A Pivot to UK Immigration Policy

While invoking Nigeria’s supposed rigidity, Badenoch used the anecdote to justify the UK’s increasingly restrictive immigration approach. She supported a policy proposal that could stretch the minimum residency requirement for citizenship from five to fifteen years, and bar migrants receiving social benefits from ever becoming British citizens.

“This is about fairness and assimilation,” Badenoch emphasized, aligning with her party’s ongoing push for post-Brexit immigration reform.

Hypocrisy or Political Posturing?

In Nigeria, public opinion swiftly turned sour. Many pointed out the irony of Badenoch—herself a product of the UK’s liberal immigration system—calling for tighter borders while spreading falsehoods about her country of origin.

On social media, the backlash was swift: “You benefited from the system, now you want to slam the door behind you.”
“Why lie on your country to make a political point?”

An aide to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu called the comments “a dangerous and misleading swipe at Nigeria’s sovereignty and identity.”

What’s Really at Stake