170 Granted Nigerian Citizenship

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170 Granted Nigerian Citizenship

08.06.2008

No fewer than 170 people yesterday received certificates of Nigerian citizenship from the Minister of Interior, retired Maj.-Gen Godwin Abbe.
The naturalised Nigerians are 39 females and 131 males from different nationalities.
Speaking on the occasion, Abbe urged the beneficiaries to help create jobs for ``our teeming unemployed youths. ``You have the patriotic duty to ensure technology transfer to help make Nigeria one of the foremost countries in the world by 2020. ``Your new status as bona fide citizens of Nigeria confers on you, the fundamental rights, privileges and immunities applicable to any Nigerian by descent'' .
He further explained that, ``Nigerian Constitution allows dual citizenship. You are therefore, permitted to retain the citizenship of your respective countries of birth or descent''.
The minister said their status ``unofficially'' bestowed on them, the responsibility to ensure and sustain solid mutually beneficial responsibility between their countries of birth and Nigeria.
He asked beneficiaries with citizenships of other countries other than those acquired by birth or descent to renounce them within 12 months as required by the constitution.

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