The House of Representatives has moved closer to introducing a new category of Nigerian citizenship through investment as lawmakers advanced a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution.
The Citizenship by Investment Bill, which passed its second reading on Wednesday, proposes granting Nigerian citizenship to qualified foreign investors who meet specific financial thresholds or invest in key sectors of the economy.
Sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and other lawmakers, the bill aims to attract foreign direct investment by offering Nigerian citizenship as an incentive for strategic economic contributions.
House Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere presented the bill for debate, alongside other constitutional amendment proposals.
If passed, the law would establish a framework for acquiring Nigerian citizenship through substantial investments, positioning the country as a more attractive destination for global investors.
In addition to the Citizenship by Investment Bill, the House also deliberated on the Indigene Status Bill, which seeks to amend the Constitution to grant indigene status to individuals who qualify by birth, continuous residence of at least ten years, or marriage.
The bill aims to address long-standing issues of belonging and discrimination in various parts of the country by ensuring legal recognition for people who have lived in a community for an extended period.
According to the explanatory memorandum, the bill “seeks to alter Section 31 of the Principal Act by inserting new subsections as follows: “Alteration of Section 31 of the Principal Act is altered by inserting new subsections “(2) – (5).”
“(2) A citizen of Nigeria is an indigene of a State if he was born in that State and has lived in the State for a continuous period of at least 10 years; or was not born in the State but has resided in a Local Government Area of that State for a continuous period of at least 10 years and can provide evidence of tax payment in that State for at least 10 years.”
“(3) A person under subsection (2) of this section is entitled to apply to the Local Government Chairman for a certificate of indigeneship of a State.
“4) A woman who is married to an indigene of a State different from her State of origin for at least five years becomes an indigene of that State and is entitled to all rights and privileges of an indigene of that State in cases of employment, appointment or election into any political or public office.
“(5) In the case of divorce or death of a spouse, a woman remains an indigene if there were children born of the marriage or not; or she elects to remain an indigene of that State.”
The death penalty law is also being reviewed.
It proposes to alter the Constitution to review the penalties for certain capital offences in alignment with relevant international best practices.
“The proposed alteration aims to ensure that Nigeria’s criminal justice system reflects global standards of fairness, proportionality, and respect for human rights while maintaining public safety and addressing serious crimes effectively,” the bill read.
Also, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation bill seeks to alter the Constitution, to establish the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation as well as the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federal Government.
The bill proposes that the Accountant-General of the Federal Government shall hold office for a term of four years, which may be renewed for a further term of four years by Mr President.
“The Accountant-General of the Federal Government shall remain in office until he attains the age of sixty years or thirty-five years of public service, whichever comes earlier,” it adds.
