WASHINGTON D.C. – At least 34,289 Nigerians became United States citizens through naturalisation from 2020 to 2022, according to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security report. This number ranked Nigeria 15th globally among countries of birth for new Nigerians U.S. citizens. The report stated Nigeria led African countries in naturalizations. For instance, the Democratic Republic of Congo had about 6,000 new citizens in 2022.
Data from Form N-400 applications, tracked by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) systems, shows a 58.8% increase in Nigerian naturalisation U.S. over the three years.
Citizenship Numbers Rose with Backlog Processing
Several factors influenced this rise. In 2020, 8,930 Nigerians were naturalized, making up 1.4% of all new U.S. citizens that year. In 2021, as USCIS addressed pandemic-related backlogs, the number of Nigerians U.S. citizens increased by over 22% to 10,921.
In 2022, a record 14,438 Nigerians took the oath of allegiance, a 32% increase from the previous year. Homeland Security noted that Africa saw the fastest regional growth in naturalisation, with a 40% increase between 2021 and 2022. The agency attributes this to faster USCIS processing and continued interest from Nigerians in legal U.S. citizenship pathways.
The Path to Nigerian Naturalisation U.S.
Naturalisation grants foreign nationals most rights of U.S.-born citizens, including voting. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 governs this process. Applicants file Form N-400 and must meet requirements such as:
- Lawful permanent residency for five years (or three if married to a U.S. citizen).
- Continuous U.S. residence.
The USCIS review process includes security checks, interviews, and English and civics tests. Verification of qualifications is also necessary. Becoming Nigerians U.S. citizens culminates in an oath ceremony, the final step.
By Abdullah Korede
