In a bold and progressive move to address Nigeria’s longstanding struggles with identity, inclusion, and equal citizenship, the House of Representatives has taken a decisive step by advancing a bill that seeks to redefine who qualifies as an indigene in the country. Sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, alongside six other lawmakers, the bill has successfully passed its second reading, setting the stage for what could be one of the most transformative legal reforms in recent times.
The bill proposes that indigene status should not be limited to ancestral claims or traditional ties to a place, but rather expanded to include individuals who have lived in a state continuously for at least ten years, those born in a state, and women who have been married to indigenes for no less than five years. At its core, the bill seeks to foster unity, inclusivity, and a renewed sense of belonging across the federation.
For decades, the concept of “state of origin” has been a divisive tool in Nigeria’s political and social structure. It has been used to marginalize, exclude, and sometimes discriminate against citizens who, despite spending most or all of their lives in a particular state, are denied opportunities simply because their parents or ancestors hailed from elsewhere. In some cases, Nigerians have been treated as strangers in communities they have helped build — working, living, and raising families there for decades without being considered one of their own.
This bill, if passed into law, will correct that anomaly. It asserts that where a person lives, contributes, and calls home should matter more than where their forebears migrated from. It also recognizes the realities of intermarriage in Nigeria, giving women married across ethnic and state lines a rightful place in their new communities.
Hon. Benjamin Kalu emphasized the importance of national integration and breaking the barriers that fuel suspicion, inequality, and ethnic division. “This bill is not just about changing legal definitions; it’s about changing mindsets and creating a Nigeria where everyone is truly equal under the law,” he stated on the floor of the House.
By pushing for the constitutional recognition of residency, birth, and marriage as legitimate pathways to indigeneship, the bill could unlock access to employment, education, political participation, and social services for millions of Nigerians who have previously been sidelined.
This move is coming at a critical time when Nigeria needs to strengthen its unity more than ever. Insecurity, economic hardship, and political tension have frayed the social fabric. By enshrining fairness and belonging into the constitution, this legislation offers a rare opportunity to heal old wounds and lay the foundation for a more cohesive nation.
The bill is expected to undergo further legislative scrutiny in the coming weeks, and Nigerians are urged to follow its progress, engage their representatives, and voice support for this historic change. For those who have known no other home than the state they live in — despite not being “recognized” as true indigenes — this bill is a lifeline and a symbol of hope.
As the national conversation continues, it is imperative that the media, civil society, traditional institutions, and ordinary citizens rally behind the vision of a united Nigeria where indigeneship is based on connection and contribution — not just lineage.
The future of Nigeria lies not in where we come from, but in where we choose to belong.