The House of Representatives on Wednesday advanced a significant piece of legislation, passing the Citizenship by Investment Bill through its second reading. The bill, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and other lawmakers, seeks to introduce a provision for granting Nigerian citizenship to foreign investors who meet specific financial criteria or invest in strategic sectors essential for the country’s development.
The bill is designed to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), aiming to bolster Nigeria’s economic growth and enhance its global competitiveness by incentivizing foreign investments in critical areas.
House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, who presented the bill, also introduced another key proposal the Indigene Status Bill. This bill seeks to grant indigene status to individuals born in a state or those who have resided there for a minimum of 10 years. Furthermore, the proposed law extends indigene status to women married to men from a different state, provided they have lived there for at least five years.
In addition to these landmark proposals, lawmakers are reviewing the nation’s death penalty law, with plans to amend the Constitution to bring Nigeria’s capital punishment penalties in line with international best practices. This proposed amendment aims to ensure fairness, proportionality, and compliance with human rights standards in Nigeria’s criminal justice system while maintaining public safety.
