The federal government has announced a new pathway to permanent residency in Nigeria, just as it conferred Nigerian citizenship on 385 deserving adult foreign nationals from different countries.
In his remarks at the conferment ceremony which was held at the Dambazzau Hall, Nigeria Correctional Service Headquarters, Abuja, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, announced the arrival of Nigeria’s ‘Brown card’ after the approval of the president and the Federal Executive Council.
A statement by Sola Fasure, Media Adviser to the Minister of Interior, said the Brown Card he stated is a new legal instrument to permanent residency for eligible foreign nationals.
“I am happy to announce the Brown card, as the legal instrument to permanent residency. The Minister of Interior is now invested with the authority to confer Permanent Residency on non- Nigerian persons, enabling such beneficiaries to live and work in Nigeria without the requirement of renewal every five years, as was the case”, Aregbesola said.
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Presenting all deserving foreign nationals to President Buhari for conferment of Nigeria citizenship, Aregbesola asserted that foreigners striving to become Nigerian citizens in their numbers was an indication that the ongoing efforts of the federal government to make Nigeria a destination for investment and peaceful coexistence is yielding good fruits.
The minister further noted that so far, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has produced the largest number of foreigners who have been conferred Nigerian citizenship through naturalisation or registration.
Aregbesola however reminded the new citizens that they will be required to make the best contribution ever to the development of Nigeria in every area, including the defence of her territorial integrity and promotion of the welfare of the people.
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