217 foreigners receive citizenship certificates

Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, has presented certificates of citizenship to 217 foreigners with a call on them to abide by national ethics and code of conduct as Nigerians.

Moro said the 217 foreign nationals, comprising 129 who naturalised and 88 who became Nigerians by registration, were conferred citizenship after they were recommended to President Goodluck Jonathan for approval by the Advisory Committee on Nigerian citizenship.

Speaking during the presentation of certificates to the beneficiaries in Abuja on Monday, the minister explained that only deserving persons were granted citizenship after a rigorous selection process and transparent procedure.

According to him, the journey to the grant  of Nigerian citizenship is long, fruitful and value-adding, noting that the ceremony underscores the fact that the world is now an integrated society.

He urged the beneficiaries to enjoy all rights and privileges within the confines of the law, as conferred on them by their new status as Nigerians, while fulfilling their foundational obligations and responsibilities to Nigeria.

The minister enjoined the new citizens to use the national anthem and pledge as their guiding creed “as they encapsulate our collective aspiration and envelopes the entwined values we associate with the Nigerian citizenship.”

Moro said, “We should, as a nation, seize the opportunity to inject more credible people with capacity, value-adding resource and friends of our dear country into the nation by granting them citizenship as we can achieve more collectively while seeking to improve on our shared destiny.”

One of the awardees, Calvino Erico, who spoke on behalf of others, said he was born in Nigeria 43 years ago.

He noted that his family had lived in the country for decades. He thanked the government for granting them Nigerian citizenship and promised to work hard for the development of the country.