Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has called out UK Conservative politician Kemi Badenoch over claims she made about Nigerian citizenship laws during a CNN interview.
Badenoch, a British MP of Nigerian descent, had told CNN’s Fareed Zakaria that she could not pass on her Nigerian citizenship to her children because she is a woman.
Comparing immigration policies between the UK and other countries, she said, “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.”
Dabiri-Erewa, speaking during an interview on Hard Copy, a Channels Television programme aired Friday, firmly rejected the claim as false and misleading.
“That is simply not true,” she stated. “And that’s the problem I have. You go on international media and spread misinformation — that’s a lie. It’s wrong to paint your country inaccurately to a global audience.”
She criticized Badenoch for publicly misrepresenting Nigeria, saying, “When you denigrate your country, we’ll respond. It’s not about me, or you, or the president — it’s about defending Nigeria. You cannot lie about your country and expect silence.”
Dabiri-Erewa also emphasized that Badenoch’s comments do not reflect the broader achievements of Nigerians abroad. “We have so many Nigerians excelling in UK politics and other fields.
Let’s not focus on one misleading narrative,” she said, while commending the positive contributions of Nigerians in the diaspora.
She acknowledged ongoing challenges faced by some Nigerians overseas but reaffirmed NiDCOM’s commitment to supporting and celebrating Nigerians abroad.
Dabiri-Erewa concluded by stressing that diaspora engagement must be rooted in truth, responsibility, and national pride.
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