The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has strongly criticised United Kingdom (UK) Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, over her recent claim that Nigerian law does not allow her to confer citizenship on her children because she is a woman.
Dabiri-Erewa, appearing on Hard Copy, a Channels Television programme on Friday, described Badenoch’s statement as misleading and entirely untrue.
Reacting to Badenoch’s controversial comment, Dabiri-Erewa pointed out that Section 25(1)(c) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution explicitly states that a person born outside Nigeria is a citizen by birth if either parent is a Nigerian.
She said, “But that is not true. Don’t divulge false information. You go on international media and spin a lie, that is a lie, that is not even true. And I’m sure people have responded.”
Dabiri-Erewa added that while Nigeria values its diaspora citizens, the country would not stay silent when its image is unjustly tarnished.
‘You Can’t Lie About Your Country and Expect Silence’
The NIDCOM boss insisted that public denigration of Nigeria by high-profile individuals must be addressed, noting that many Nigerians in the UK are excelling in public service without attacking their heritage.
“It’s not about me, or the President, or you, it’s about Nigeria,” Dabiri-Erewa said.
“You can’t lie about your country, and then we keep quiet.”
According to her, “There are many who are doing very well politically. So ours is to continue to work with every Nigerian in the diaspora, but you can’t force anybody.”
Badenoch Controversial Comments
Naijaonpoint reports that Badenoch, who was elected UK Conservative Party leader on November 2, 2024, claimed during a recent interview: “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.”
Her comment drew widespread criticism, including from human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, who called it “a display of utter ignorance” and accused her of misleading the British public for political advantage.
This isn’t the first time Badenoch has courted backlash for her remarks about Nigeria.
In December 2024, Vice-President Kashim Shettima condemned her for denigrating her country of origin.
During that period, Badenoch allegedly described Northern Nigerians as “ethnic enemies” and publicly said she identified more with her Yoruba roots than the Nigerian state.
She also accused Nigerian police officers of once stealing her brother’s shoes and wristwatch, describing the country as “very poor” and alleging police brutality and corruption.
Presidency, Critics Push Back
The Nigerian presidency dismissed her allegations as a “cock and bull story,” while former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, accused her of hypocrisy, pointing out that Nigerian police officers were still providing protection for her relatives in Lagos.
Dabiri-Erewa also confirmed that NIDCOM had made several attempts to engage Badenoch, all of which were ignored.
Badenoch’s Rise to Tory Leadership
Naijaonpoint reports that Kemi Badenoch won 57 per cent of the votes in a two-way race against Robert Jenrick to replace Rishi Sunak as the Conservative Party leader following the party’s loss in the July 2025 general election.
Born in London in 1980, Badenoch spent much of her childhood in Lagos and the United States, where her mother worked as a lecturer. She returned to the UK at 16, reportedly due to Nigeria’s economic hardship.
Despite her Nigerian roots, critics argue she has repeatedly distanced herself from the country in a bid to appeal to the conservative British electorate.