BEVERLY HILLS, May 16, (THEWILL) – Mrs. Iara Oshiomhole, Wife of former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomole, has been granted citizenship by the Federal Government after statutory clearance and due diligence by the relevant security agencies.
The Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd), who presented the certificate of citizenship to Iara, who is from Cape Verde, and other 334 foreign nationals on Tuesday, in Abuja, charging them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria.
Dambazau in his remarks said 335 applicants were approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in January, out of the over 500 foreigners that applied for Nigerian citizenship.
He explained that 245 applicants were granted Citizenship by Naturalisation while 90 were by Registration but NAN reports that many of these were 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 said.
Danbazau said the approval was part of government’s effort to improve 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 annual basis for proper scrutiny.
