- Kemi Badenoch proposes a 15-year wait for British citizenship.
- Nigerians criticize the policy as unfair and hypocritical.
- Critics argue the move targets immigrants and undermines opportunities.
Kemi Badenoch’s proposal to extend the waiting period for British citizenship to 15 years has sparked fierce backlash, especially among Nigerians, who form a large part of the UK’s migrant community.
The plan, part of Badenoch’s first major policy move as Conservative leader, aims to tighten immigration rules by extending the time migrants must wait to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) from five to ten years.
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Badenoch’s policy also states that individuals claiming benefits, seeking social housing, or with criminal records would be ineligible for permanent residency. While the move is intended to control immigration, it has generated significant criticism, particularly from Nigerians who feel the proposal is unfairly punitive and disproportionate.
Many Nigerians have voiced their displeasure on social media, arguing that the extended wait time unfairly punishes hardworking migrants who are simply striving for a stable future.
Critics are also accusing Badenoch of hypocrisy, questioning how she benefited from the immigration system and then seeks to close the door for others.
On Twitter, @Ynw_szn expressed frustration, saying, “Ahh ahh, this law don too much oo. Stay for 15 years before u can apply for citizenship, oga oo.”
Others, like @MESIGO422, echoed this sentiment, writing, “They ask her how she got her own citizenship and why she has decided to make it harder for people in the UK. Tomorrow if people decide to leave, the country will be in a deep economic depression.”
One user, @abbello110, called out Badenoch for being an immigrant who is now “kicking against the system,” while @ayodejiawonowo suggested the proposal was an effort to appeal to Britain’s more conservative population, writing, “She has to pander to the people of Britain and the fastest way to do that is taking a hard stance on immigration.”
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Badenoch as a “wicked Nigerian woman.” @Deprincefrk001 said, “She ain’t done yet! A woman who doesn’t want anybody to have the privileges she once had, that woman is Kemi Badenoch.”
While the proposal remains in the early stages, the backlash from Nigerians and other immigrant communities in the UK indicates that this move could ignite even more heated debates on the country’s immigration policies.
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