A bill sponsored by Senator Ned Munir Nwoko seeking to provide a legal pathway for persons of African descent in the diaspora to obtain Nigerian citizenship has passed its first reading in the Senate.
Titled the African Descendants Citizens Application Bill, the proposed legislation aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework for granting citizenship to individuals of African heritage who wish to reconnect with their ancestral homeland.
The bill was introduced during Wednesday’s plenary session, where it successfully scaled the first legislative hurdle. It is expected to undergo further scrutiny and debate in subsequent readings, as lawmakers consider the implications and processes for integrating descendants of Africa into the Nigerian national fold.
Senator Nwoko, who represents Delta North Senatorial District, emphasized the bill’s importance in strengthening Nigeria’s leadership role in Pan-Africanism, promoting cultural reconnection, and expanding the country’s global influence through diaspora engagement.
