US Bill to End Dual Citizenship Puts Many Nigerians on Edge

BY BONNY AMADI

The dual citizenship status currently enjoyed by Nigerians American living in the United States and other countries of the world would may soon be halted if the proposed law to end dual citizenship in the US sails through.

Nigerians who have adopted American citizenships while enjoying their Nigerian citizenship would be given the option to denounce their Nigerian citizenship if they expect to continue enjoying all benefits as American citizens.

Bernie Moreno, a United States senator, recently introduced a bill that seeks to eliminate dual citizenship for American nationals.

The US law currently allows citizens to hold multiple nationalities without requiring them to renounce any.

However, according to Moreno’s bill, dubbed the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025, that flexibility may create “conflicts of interest and divided loyalties”.

“One of the greatest honours of my life was when I became an American citizen at 18, the first opportunity I could do so,” said the Colombian-born senator.

“It was an honour to pledge an Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America and ONLY to the United States of America! Being an American citizen is an honour and a privilege—and if you want to be an American, it’s all or nothing. It’s time to end dual citizenship for good.”

Moreno later renounced his Colombian citizenship.

If passed, the law could affect notable US citizens such as Melania Trump, the US first lady, who holds both US and Slovenian citizenship.

It would also affect many Nigerians who have dual citizenships in Nigeria and the US.

According to a July US naturalisations annual flow report by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the US swore in 38,890 Nigerians as naturalised citizens from 2021 to 2023.

Nigeria was the 13th country with the most naturalised citizens and the only African country among the top 20 countries.

Nigerian laws permit dual citizenship for citizens by birth, allowing them to acquire or retain citizenship of another country without forfeiting Nigerian citizenship.

Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order aiming to deny automatic citizenship to US-born children of undocumented immigrants.

However, the order faced immediate lawsuits from some 18 states and rights groups, citing violations of the 14th Amendment’s birthright citizenship clause.

The order has yet to take effect owing to the legal hurdles.