Section 27 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria

Section 27 of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 is about Citizenship by naturalisation. It is under Chapter III (Citizenship) of the Act.

(1) Subject to the provisions of section 28 of this Constitution, any person who is qualified in accordance with the provisions of this section may apply to the President for the same of a certificate of
naturalisation.

(2) No person shall be qualified to apply for the grant of a certificate or naturalisation, unless he satisfies the President that –
(a) he is a person of full age and capacity;
(b) he is a person of good character;

(c) he has shown a clear intention of his desire to be domiciled in Nigeria;
(d) he is, in the opinion of the Governor of the State where he is or he proposes to be resident, acceptable to the local community in which he is to live permanently, and has been assimilated into the way of life of Nigerians in that part of the Federation;

(e) he is a person who has made or is capable of making useful contribution to the advancement, progress and well-being of Nigeria;
(f) he has taken the Oath of Allegiance prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to this Constitution; and
[Seventh Schedule]

(g) he has, immediately preceding the date of his application, either-
(i) resided in Nigeria for a continuous period of fifteen years; or
(ii) resided in Nigeria continuously for a period of twelve months, and during the period of twenty years immediately preceding that period of twelve months has resided in Nigeria for periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than fifteen years.

Credit: Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC)