By Austin Oyibode,
Senator Ned Nwoko, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Reparation and Repatriation, is throwing his weight behind a groundbreaking bill that seeks to grant Nigerian citizenship to Afro-descendants who can trace their roots back to the country.
The bill was unveiled midweek during a courtesy visit to the National Assembly by a delegation from the African Diasporan Union. It aims to formally recognise and integrate members of the African diaspora with ancestral ties to Nigeria, part of a broader mission to reconnect historical bonds and cultural heritage.
“I assured them of my support, while emphasising the need to align such initiatives with our constitutional and legal frameworks,” Nwoko said in a post-meeting statement.
As the senator leading Nigeria’s efforts on reparation and repatriation, Nwoko highlighted the importance of his committee serving the people in a “meaningful” way, adding that this proposal could be a pivotal step in reuniting the African diaspora with their roots.
In a related move, Nwoko revealed he has also sponsored a separate bill currently before the Senate that seeks to grant voting rights to Nigerians living abroad.
If passed, both measures could signal a historic shift in Nigeria’s engagement with its diaspora and the descendants of the transatlantic slave trade—potentially rewriting the country’s relationship with millions around the world.
