Citizenship is more than a passport, it is the legal foundation that shows and shapes a person’s rights, identity, and opportunities. In today’s world of global mobility, dual nationality, and rising migration, more Nigerians are asking critical questions about how citizenship can be given up, withdrawn, or legally challenged. Yet very few people truly understand how the Nigerian constitution treats renunciation and deprivation of citizenship, or the exact steps involved when someone wants to revoke their Nigerian nationality.
Citizenship matters because it is both a legal status and a practical passport to rights, obligations, and opportunities. Whether someone wants to renounce Nigerian citizenship (voluntarily give it up) or faces deprivation (the state strips citizenship for legal reasons), the consequences are major, affecting travel, property rights, political participation, and family status. This article explains the legal basis in Nigerian law, the formal steps involved, common grounds for forced deprivation, and practical tips for anyone navigating the process.
Legal Framework: The Right Place to Start
Nigeria’s rules on citizenship are set out in Chapter III of the 1999 Constitution as amended. These two sections below are central:
Section 29 covers renunciation, which states how an adult may declare, in the prescribed manner, that they wish to give up Nigerian citizenship, then the President registers that declaration and upon registration, the person ceases to be Nigerian, in which the President may withhold registration in limited circumstances such as during war or where it would offend public policy.
Section 30 covers deprivation, which states that the President may deprive or strip certain persons who are not citizens by birth or registration of Nigerian citizenship on enumerated grounds. For example, conviction to a significant prison term within seven years of naturalisation, acts or speeches showing disloyalty, or unlawful collaboration with an enemy during war. The Constitution also allows the President to make subsidiary regulations for the procedure.
Because the Constitution delegates practical details like forms, evidence, local certification, etc to regulations and to relevant ministries or embassies, government guidance and embassy pages are useful complements when preparing an application.
Steps to Follow When Revoking Nigerian Citizenship
Voluntary Renunciation
This is a step-by-step procedure on what someone must do:
1. Confirm eligibility and give a reason
It has to be a Nigerian of full age (18+) who can renounce. People typically renounce because they are becoming citizens of another country that requires renunciation, or for personal or political reasons. Check whether renouncing will create statelessness because many countries require proof of another nationality before accepting renunciation.
2. Gather your documents
These are commonly required documents (embassy or interior checklists) which include: passport photographs, birth certificate, current Nigerian passport with copies of data pages, sworn affidavit, evidence of new citizenship or pending grant, local government certificate of origin, and certification from the applicant’s LGA secretary. Consult the Nigerian embassy or the interior ministry’s published checklist for exact items.
3. Make the prescribed declaration
The Constitution requires a declaration in the prescribed manner. In practice, this means the completion of renunciation forms provided by the Nigerian missions or the Federal Ministry responsible for citizenship, and submitting supporting documents. The embassy or ministry will advise how the declaration must be sworn and witnessed.
4. Submit to the appropriate authority (embassy or ministry)
If the person is living abroad, they should submit the paperwork to a Nigerian embassy or consulate. If the person is in Nigeria, submission is to the ministry or unit handling citizenship matters. The authority will then forward the declaration for registration.
5. Presidential registration (the final act)
The President through the appropriate office registers the declaration. Registration is a legal act that ends Nigerian citizenship. Note that the President has discretion to withhold registration in exceptional circumstances e.g., war, or if renunciation offends public policy. Do not assume automatic approval.
6. Keep receipts and official confirmation
When registration is completed, you should receive written confirmation. Keep copies because airlines, embassies, and other governments often require this proof when establishing nationality status.
Deprivation: How the State Can Revoke Citizenship Without Consent
Deprivation is different from voluntary renunciation. The Constitution allows the President to deprive certain persons who are not citizens by birth or registration of citizenship on limited grounds.
Key points to note:
Who can be deprived: Naturalised citizens and those who acquired citizenship by registration. There are special protections for citizens by birth. The law distinguishes between categories of citizens.
Common statutory grounds: The Constitution lists examples, which include:
- Someone within seven years after naturalisation, being sentenced to at least three years’ imprisonment
- Someone showing disloyalty by act or speech
- Someone unlawfully trading or assisting the enemy during wartime
- Someone in any other conduct that in the President’s view justifies deprivation after due inquiry
Procedure and rights: Deprivation must be based on records of court proceedings or after a due inquiry in accordance with regulations. Because deprivation affects fundamental interests, affected persons should get legal advice immediately and ask for judicial review where appropriate.
Practical Tips: Common Questions
1. Dual citizenship nuance
Nigerians by birth may hold another nationality without losing Nigerian citizenship. However, persons who acquired Nigerian citizenship by registration or naturalisation may sometimes face requirements about when to renounce previous citizenships. Check Section 28 and any time limits that apply. If someone acquires another nationality and is not a citizen by birth, there are forfeiture provisions that may apply. Check the exact category of the person’s Nigerian citizenship before acting.
2. Do not assume that embassy staff can override the Constitution
Embassies help with paperwork and forwarding declarations but the legal act of renunciation or deprivation is governed by the Constitution and by the Office of the President. Expect administrative steps and possible delays if the President’s office exercises discretion.
3. Avoid statelessness
Before renouncing, secure proof of another nationality or a definite offer of another nationality, otherwise you risk becoming stateless with immediate legal and practical hardship. Many receiving countries require evidence of renunciation, so plan both ends by having a new nationality plus Nigerian renunciation.
4. If facing deprivation, get legal counsel right away
Deprivation decisions can often be challenged in court, and the Constitution requires records or due inquiry. An early legal challenge may preserve rights and procedural fairness.
5. Check the latest registrations and forms
The Constitution sets the high-level rules, but the Interior Ministry or Federal civil service publishes the forms and local requirements that change more often. Always download the current checklist from an official Nigerian government page or contact the nearest Nigerian embassy.
Conclusion
Navigating the process of revoking Nigerian citizenship, whether through voluntary renunciation or government-ordered deprivation, is not something anyone should approach casually. Citizenship affects travel, legal rights, family status, and long-term security, which makes it one of the most sensitive decisions a person can ever make. Understanding the constitutional rules, the required documents, the role of the President, and the risks of becoming stateless is essential before taking any step.
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