Origins of Citizenship – SS1 Citizenship & Heritage Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

A person can become a Nigerian citizen in four ways: by birth, by registration, by naturalisation, or through honorary citizenship.

• Birth: citizenship comes from parents.
• Registration: for people with close family or legal links, such as marriage.
• Naturalisation: for long-term residents who meet strict conditions.
• Honorary: an award for extraordinary service.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. name the four types of citizenship;
2. explain how a person becomes a citizen by birth and by registration;
3. state the conditions a person must meet to become a citizen by naturalisation;
4. describe honorary citizenship and say why it is often symbolic;
5. give reasons why the government sets rules for citizenship.

What is citizenship?

Citizenship is the legal status of a person who belongs to a country and enjoys its rights and duties.

• Citizen: a person legally recognised as a member of a country, such as a Nigerian.
• Alien: a person living in a country who is not a citizen of it.
• Rights: benefits a citizen enjoys, such as voting, freedom of movement and protection by the law.
• Duties: things a citizen must do, such as obeying laws, paying taxes and respecting national symbols.

How can a person become a Nigerian citizen?

There are four ways to become a Nigerian citizen: birth, registration, naturalisation and honorary award.

What is citizenship by birth?

Citizenship by birth is citizenship a person gets automatically from their parents or family roots.

• Most common way: most students in your class are citizens because of their parents’ nationality.
• By parentage: a child with a Nigerian parent (even only one) is a citizen, wherever in the world the child was born.
• Born in Nigeria: a child born in Nigeria is a citizen when a parent or grandparent is Nigerian.
• Important point: Nigeria does not give citizenship only because a child was born on its land.

What is citizenship by registration?

Citizenship by registration is citizenship given on application to people who have a close legal or family link to Nigeria.

• Middle ground: it is for people who were not born citizens but are already close to our community.
• Marriage: a foreign woman who marries a Nigerian man can apply to be registered as a citizen.
• Grandparents: a person born abroad whose grandparent was a Nigerian citizen can apply.
• Good character: the applicant must have no criminal record.
• Intention to live here: the applicant must show a real wish to live in Nigeria and respect our way of life.

What is citizenship by naturalisation?

Naturalisation is the process by which a foreigner with no family link to Nigeria becomes a citizen after living here for many years.

• Hardest path: it is for people with no blood connection to Nigeria who have lived here a long time and love the country.

The person must meet these conditions:

1. Long stay: the person must have lived in Nigeria for 15 years.
2. Good character: neighbours and the government must see the person as honest and law-abiding.
3. Contribution: the person must be able to add something useful to the country, such as a doctor, trader or teacher.
4. Language: the person must speak a local language or English well enough to communicate.
5. The oath: the person must take the Oath of Allegiance, promising loyalty to Nigeria.

What is honorary citizenship?

Honorary citizenship is an award of honour given to a foreigner for extraordinary service to a country.

• Rare: it is given to very few people.
• Award, not a legal process: there is no application, and the person does not need to live in the country.
• Why it is given: for acts such as helping to build hospitals, saving lives in a disaster or representing the country abroad.
• Often symbolic: it is a great honour, but the holder may not enjoy every political right, such as contesting for President.

How do the four types of citizenship compare?

The table below sets the four types side by side.

What is the difference between the “soil” rule and citizenship by parentage?

The “soil” rule gives citizenship to anyone born on a country’s land, while parentage gives it through the nationality of the parents.

• Soil rule: place of birth decides. A child born in the USA is a citizen, as the USA follows this rule.
• Parentage: family decides. A child with a Nigerian parent is a Nigerian citizen, even if born abroad.

Why does the government set rules for citizenship?

The government sets rules so that only people who are truly committed to the country become citizens.

• Clear membership: everyone knows who belongs and who does not.
• Commitment: citizens are expected to support the peace, growth and safety of the country.
• Protection: rules guard against people who may harm the country.
• Fairness: everyone seeking citizenship follows the same steps.
• Example: just as not everyone can walk into your house and claim to be your sibling, not everyone can claim to be a citizen.

Evaluation

1. If a Nigerian woman marries a man from Brazil, does the man automatically become a Nigerian citizen? (Hint: check the registration section.)
2. Why does the government ask for good character before giving someone citizenship?
3. List the five conditions a person must meet to become a citizen by naturalisation.
4. Explain the difference between the “soil” rule and citizenship by parentage.

Assignment

Write a short note on each of the four types of citizenship. For each one, say how a person gets it and give one key requirement.