The House of Representatives proposed a bill seeking to introduce citizenship by investment into the Nigerian Constitution, scaled through second reading on Wednesday, March 26, 2025

A bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to The Citizenship by Investment Bill, which is among the Constitution amendment bills presently before the House of Representatives, seeks to alter the Constitution to introduce a new class of citizenship known as citizenship by investment.

The proposed laws, sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu and other lawmakers, were presented for second reading by the House leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbere.

The bill provides for the acquisition of Nigerian citizenship by qualified foreign investors who meet specified investment thresholds.

The proposed alteration aims to attract foreign direct investment by granting Nigerian citizenship to individuals who invest in the Nigerian economy above a specified financial threshold or in strategic sectors critical to national development.

Additionally, House Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, who presented the bill, also introduced another proposed amendment the Indigene Status Bill which seeks to guarantee indigene status to individuals born in a state or those who have resided there for at least 10 years.

The bill also extends indigene status to women married to men from a different state for at least five years.

Additionally, lawmakers are reviewing the death penalty law, proposing constitutional amendments to align penalties for capital offences with international best practices.

The amendment aims to ensure fairness, proportionality, and human rights compliance in Nigeria’s criminal justice system while maintaining public safety.