Reps Move Bill To Grant Citizenship To Foreign Investors In Nigeria

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed a bill through the second reading that aims to amend the Nigerian Constitution to include citizenship by investment.

The Citizenship by Investment Bill, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and other lawmakers, proposes granting Nigerian citizenship to foreign investors who meet a specified financial threshold or invest in strategic sectors crucial to national development.

The bill aims to attract foreign direct investment and boost economic growth.

House Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, who presented the bill, also introduced another proposed amendment—the Indigene Status Bill—which seeks to guarantee indigene status to individuals born in a state or those who have resided there for at least 10 years.

The bill also extends indigenous status to women married to men from a different state for at least five years.

Additionally, lawmakers are reviewing the death penalty law, proposing constitutional amendments to align penalties for capital offenses with international best practices.

The amendment aims to ensure fairness, proportionality, and human rights compliance in Nigeria’s criminal justice system while maintaining public safety.