FEDERAL Executive Council (FEC) has approved the application of 92 foreign nationals, who are mostly Lebanese, for Nigerian citizenship.
According to the Minister of Interior, Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho (rtd), a total of 109 foreign nationals applied to be granted Nigerian citizenship.
He, however, said that after rigorous screening by relevant government agencies, 92 were successful.
The breakdown shows that while 68 got approval for citizenship by naturalisation, having lived in the country for about 15 years, 24 got the FEC’s nod for citizenship by registration, having been married to Nigerians.
According to him, a total of 17 applications were rejected by the Advisory Committee statutorily charged with making recommendations to the council after screening by relevant government agencies.
The minister lauded the security agencies, including the State Security Service (SSS) and Immigration Services for doing a thorough job during screening.
Asked why most of the applicants are Lebanese, Iheanacho said many of them were born in Nigeria and ordinarily, their citizenship should have been automatic.
He, however, listed three conditions to be met by those whose applications have been successful before being presented with certificates of citizenship.
The conditions are: they have to pay the prescribed fee, ranging from N20, 000 to N150, 000, swear to an oath and denounce their formal citizenship.