I don’t have dual citizenship because I’m an arrogant Nigerian — Fashola

Former Lagos State Governor and immediate past Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, has dismissed claims that he holds dual citizenship, insisting that he is Nigerian by choice, conviction and identity.

Fashola made the statement on Tuesday in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at the Nigeria Reputation Summit 2026, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.

Speaking on national identity, migration, patriotism and Nigeria’s global image, he urged Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to take collective ownership of the country and its challenges.

He said many Nigerians fail to see national problems as a shared responsibility, stressing that although the constitution allows dual citizenship, he holds only Nigerian citizenship and is unapologetic about it. Describing himself as “proudly and arrogantly Nigerian,”

Fashola noted that all his education was obtained in Nigeria and expressed confidence that the country can reclaim anything it appears to have lost if citizens are committed.

Fashola maintained that despite its challenges, Nigeria remains a land of immense opportunities and social mobility, where people from humble beginnings have risen to positions of leadership.

He warned against allowing the actions of a few individuals to define the country’s image, noting that they do not represent the values of most Nigerians.

He also shared experiences abroad where Nigerians were warmly received, even during periods when the country faced security challenges. According to him, no nation is without difficulties, and a country’s reputation is shaped by how it confronts and responds to its challenges.