Badenoch criticises Nigerian citizenship law, vows tougher UK immigration rules

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, has claimed that her children are unable to obtain Nigerian citizenship because she is a woman, even though many Nigerians are able to acquire British citizenship with relative ease.

Speaking during an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria on Sunday, Badenoch highlighted what she sees as inconsistencies in immigration policies between Nigeria and the UK.

She argued that immigrants sometimes take advantage of the British system, which she says leaves the UK exposed to security and cultural risks.

When asked if she would allow a Nigerian immigrant to create a “mini-Nigeria” in the UK in the name of cultural integration, Badenoch responded emphatically, “no,” adding that such actions wouldn’t be tolerated in Nigeria or many other countries.

“There are many people who come to our country, to the UK, who do things that would not be acceptable in their countries,” she said.

To illustrate her point, Badenoch brought up her children’s inability to acquire Nigerian citizenship. “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,” she stated.

“Yet loads of Nigerians come to the UK and stay for a relatively free period of time, acquire British citizenship. We need to stop being naive.”

Badenoch, who has three children with her husband Hamish Badenoch, a Scottish banker, was born in the UK in 1980 to Nigerian Yoruba parents.

She spent part of her childhood in Nigeria before returning to Britain at age 16. After her marriage, she adopted her husband’s surname.

Her claim regarding Nigerian citizenship has drawn scrutiny, as Section 25(1)(c) of the Nigerian Constitution clearly states that any person born outside the country is a Nigerian citizen by birth if either parent is a Nigerian.

This contradicts Badenoch’s assertion that her gender prevents her from passing on citizenship.

Badenoch previously served in the UK Cabinet under Prime Ministers Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak between 2022 and 2024.

She has risen to prominence for her tough stance on immigration and, in the CNN interview, reiterated her commitment to making it “a lot harder” for immigrants to gain British citizenship under her leadership.