Lagos State government has revealed that 116 foreigners living in Lagos have applied to be naturalised as Nigerians through the state Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ibrahim Layode, disclosed this on Tuesday at the ongoing ministerial press briefing to mark the second year and second term of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration.

The Commissioner stated that the screening and processing of applications for naturalisation and special immigrant status is a major mandate of the Ministry of Interior in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Home Affairs.

“As a national matter, it is mainly regulated by the domestic laws of sovereign nations. The objective of the exercise is to grant right of citizenship to foreigners who have lived in the country continuously for a period of fifteen (15) years and above with investment interests devoid of criminal activities.

“Special Immigrant Status is a means of granting Permanent Residency to foreign nationals who marry a Nigerian Citizen.

During the period under review, 116 applicants were received for processing, while 63 applicants were cross-examined for naturalisation and special immigrant status.”

Layode stated that the final recommendation is concluded by the Federal Ministry of Interior to ensure assimilation of non-Nigerians as citizens for the economic enhancement of the nation.

“The processing commences immediately an application is received from the Ministry of Interior, Abuja. The applicants will be invited to submit all necessary documents and payment of processing fees.

“There is going to be Pre-meeting of Sub-Committee on Naturalization and Special Immigrant Status which is a precondition for Statutory Meeting of the aforementioned Committee usually convened to serve the purpose of ensuring that persons recommended for Nigerian Citizen are of good character, most importantly, to establish the genuineness of the documents submitted by the applicants.

“The statutory members of the Committee comprise representatives from six Agencies of the Federal and State Governments. They are: Nigerian Immigration Service, Department of State Security, Nigerian Police, Ministry of Justice, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service and Office of Civic Engagement.”