A United States citizen married to a Nigerian woman has taken to social media to express deep frustration over the challenges he’s facing in trying to acquire Nigerian citizenship and a passport, despite being legally married and having Nigerian children.
In a video making rounds online, the man, who is currently in the U.S., questioned what he described as a “double standard” in Nigeria’s immigration and citizenship process. According to him, his research online shows that when a Nigerian man marries a foreign woman, she becomes eligible to apply for a Nigerian passport almost immediately. However, the reverse doesn’t apply when a Nigerian woman marries a foreign man.
"Why is it that if a Nigerian man marries a foreigner, the wife gets her passport, but if a Nigerian woman marries a foreigner, he has to live in Nigeria for 15 years before even being considered eligible?" he asked.
The footage also shows him holding up the Nigerian passports of his wife and their children, further emphasizing his point that he is already family and committed to Nigeria by blood and marriage.
He lamented that the process appears discriminatory and questioned whether the information he found online is truly accurate or if there are exceptions. “Why me?” he repeatedly asked, hoping that what he read isn't entirely true and that there could still be a path forward for him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaHLcJtHaVc
In a video making rounds online, the man, who is currently in the U.S., questioned what he described as a “double standard” in Nigeria’s immigration and citizenship process. According to him, his research online shows that when a Nigerian man marries a foreign woman, she becomes eligible to apply for a Nigerian passport almost immediately. However, the reverse doesn’t apply when a Nigerian woman marries a foreign man.
"Why is it that if a Nigerian man marries a foreigner, the wife gets her passport, but if a Nigerian woman marries a foreigner, he has to live in Nigeria for 15 years before even being considered eligible?" he asked.
The footage also shows him holding up the Nigerian passports of his wife and their children, further emphasizing his point that he is already family and committed to Nigeria by blood and marriage.
He lamented that the process appears discriminatory and questioned whether the information he found online is truly accurate or if there are exceptions. “Why me?” he repeatedly asked, hoping that what he read isn't entirely true and that there could still be a path forward for him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaHLcJtHaVc