The Federal Government, Wednesday, granted Nigerian citizenship to 174 foreigners.
Briefing journalists after the weekly meeting of the Executive Council of the Federation, FEC, chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, said a breakdown of the applications submitted included those from 45 foreigners married to Nigerians, and 129 from persons that were born by naturalised Nigerians.
Mr. Moro said another 27 applications were rejected and were not approved by FEC because “they did not meet the basic requirements of tax payment and ability to live their lives in Nigeria without being economic burdens and security problems.
“A series of factors were taken into consideration, but much more importantly the issue of security that has become very serious consideration especially when foreigners from countries that are prone to violence, such as Lebanon and Syria, apply to become Nigerian citizens,” the minister said.
The minister also criticised Nigerians who were losing faith in the country.
“We are in this country losing some level of faith in the viability of Nigeria, on the brightness of the future of Nigeria given the level of potential that we have in this country today, by some Nigerians and cynics, especially opposition political parties or persons creating an impression that Nigeria is gravitating towards a failed state.
“Yet we have foreigners who have very serious economic interest in Nigeria who have lived in this country, some since independence, who are eager to become Nigerian citizens by taking into consideration the economic viability and potential of Nigeria and hoping that their lives can better be lived in this country as Nigerian citizens than citizens of their countries,” he said.