Gender Bias In Law? Kemi Badenoch’s Explosive Claim On Nigerian Citizenship Goes Viral {Video}

Kemi Badenoch, a prominent figure in the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, has stirred controversy with her claim that she is unable to pass Nigerian citizenship to her children because she is a woman. She made this statement while criticizing the UK’s immigration policies during an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria on Sunday, July 20.

While addressing the challenges of immigration, Badenoch compared the UK’s approach with that of countries like Nigeria. She argued that many immigrants take advantage of Britain’s lenient system—practices, she claimed, would not be tolerated in their countries of origin.

When asked whether she would allow a Nigerian immigrant to establish a “mini-Nigeria” in the UK as part of cultural integration, Badenoch responded firmly, “No.” She added, “That is not right. Nigerians would not tolerate that. That’s not something that many countries would accept.”

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

Citing her children’s alleged ineligibility for Nigerian citizenship as an example, Badenoch said, “It’s virtually impossible, for example, to get Nigerian citizenship. I have that citizenship by virtue of my parents, but I can’t give it to my children because I’m a woman.”

She contrasted this with the UK’s policies, pointing out, “Yet loads of Nigerians come to the UK, stay for a relatively free period of time, and acquire British citizenship. We need to stop being naive.”

However, her assertion contradicts Section 25(1)(c) of the Nigerian Constitution, which clearly states that anyone born outside Nigeria is a citizen by birth if either parent is a Nigerian citizen—meaning gender is not a barrier.

Watch the full video below.