By Emman Ovuakpori
ABUJA-The Federal Government has conferred citizenship on 82 foreign nationals based in Nigeria including the wife of former Governor of Oyo State, Mrs Habibatu Ladoja.

Speaking at the colourful event Tuesday, Minister of Interior Capt. Emmanuel Ihenacho who represented the President, Goodluck Jonathan said,” the grant of Nigerian citizenship is indeed a sacred exercise to honour deserving foreigners in adherence to the provisions of the various enabling laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

He explained further that “it is at the full discretion of Mr President through the advice of my ministry to approve that a foreigner who desires to acquire Nigerian citizenship has satisfied the conditions set therein particularly with regards to being of good character and conduct, of full age, contributing meaningfully to  the development of their Nigerian community.”

In a chat later with the Vanguard, an elated Mrs Ladoja said she is proud to become a Nigerian as the mother is Nigerian while the father is from the Republic of Benin.

Her husband former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rasheed Ladoja told newsmen that “I have fully acquired her with certificate of occupancy.”