Former Lagos Governor and ex-Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, has refuted claims that he holds dual citizenship, affirming that he is solely Nigerian by choice, conviction, and identity.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Fashola made the statement on Tuesday in Abuja while delivering the keynote address at the Nigeria Reputation Summit 2026, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations. His speech focused on national identity, migration, patriotism, and Nigeria’s image on the global stage.

He urged Nigerians, both at home and in the diaspora, to take collective ownership of the country and its challenges, stressing that shared responsibility is crucial for national progress.

“I don’t think we own Nigeria enough. Some of our compatriots hold dual citizenship under the 1999 Constitution, but I have only one,” Fashola said.
“When people say, ‘your country,’ I respond, ‘stop. It’s our country. Your problem is our problem.’ Shared ownership is essential. When we embrace it, we can solve our challenges.”

Describing his bond with Nigeria, Fashola said, “From my childhood, I have been not just a proud Nigerian, but an arrogant one. I’m arrogant about my country.” He emphasized that his entire education was acquired in Nigeria, reinforcing his confidence in the nation’s ability to produce global excellence.

“All my education was here. Proudly made in Nigeria. Arrogantly, too. Everything we think we’ve lost, we can reclaim if we decide to,” he said.

On emigration, popularly known as Japa, Fashola traced the trend to earlier decades, noting that Nigerians have long sought opportunities abroad. “When we graduated from the University of Benin in the 1980s, many left Nigeria. Now it’s Japa, 35 years later. But almost all of them have come back,” he said.

Despite challenges, Fashola affirmed that Nigeria is full of opportunities. “Nigeria is a land of unending possibilities. It’s where the biggest rags-to-riches stories happen, where people from the humblest beginnings rise to leadership,” he noted.

He encouraged Nigerians to rethink their admiration for success abroad. “Which son of a king or billionaire has ever reached our presidency? Yet we spend so much time valorising other people’s dreams,” he added.

Fashola also warned against letting the actions of a few shape Nigeria’s global reputation. “Yes, some people make choices that give us concern. But they do not define us. They don’t reflect what right-thinking Nigerians believe about themselves,” he said, recounting a London encounter where a shop owner excitedly welcomed Nigerians despite the country’s security challenges.

“There’s no country without challenges. What defines us is how we face them, not the challenges themselves,” Fashola concluded.

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