Former Lagos State Governor and immediate past Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, has rejected insinuations that he possesses dual citizenship, affirming that he is Nigerian solely by choice, belief, and personal identity.
Fashola made this known on Tuesday in Abuja while delivering the keynote address at the Nigeria Reputation Summit 2026, hosted by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.
He urged Nigerians, both within the country and in the diaspora, to develop a shared sense of responsibility for Nigeria and its challenges.
Fashola said: “I don’t believe we take sufficient ownership of Nigeria. Some of our colleagues, backed by the 1999 Constitution, hold dual citizenship. I don’t.
“When they refer to Nigeria as ‘your country,’ I correct them—it is our country. Your problem is my problem. Until we all share ownership, solutions will remain elusive.
“And when they talk to me, they say, ‘your country.’ I say, stop. It’s our country. Your problem is our problem. There must be a common ownership on every platform.
“If we have common ownership, we will solve it. So, from my childhood experience, I tell people I’m not just a proud Nigerian, I’m an arrogant one. I’m arrogant about my country.”
Drawing from his upbringing, he described himself as unapologetically patriotic. “I tell people I’m not just proudly Nigerian; I’m boldly and confidently so. Every stage of my education happened here in Nigeria.
“I am entirely a product of this country, and I wear that identity without apology. Whatever we think we have lost can be reclaimed if we make up our minds to do so.”
Reflecting on migration trends, Fashola noted that the current “Japa” phenomenon is simply a continuation of a long-standing pattern that dates back decades.
“When we finished at the University of Benin in the 1980s, many of our classmates left the country. Back then, people called it ‘checking out.’ Statements like ‘I’m tired of this country’ were common.
“Today, it’s called Japa. Decades later, the language has changed, but the movement is familiar. Interestingly, most of those who left eventually returned,” he observed.
According to him, Nigeria continues to offer immense opportunities and remains one of the few places where social mobility is still achievable.
“This country is full of possibilities. Some of the most remarkable success stories, from poverty to prominence, have emerged here. How many children of kings or billionaires have become president in Nigeria? Yet, we constantly celebrate other people’s aspirations instead of our own.”
Fashola warned against judging the nation based on the misconduct of a small minority.
“Yes, there are individuals whose actions embarrass us, but they do not represent who we truly are or what the majority of Nigerians stand for.”
He recounted an experience in London where a shop owner was thrilled upon discovering they were Nigerians, even inviting his family to take photographs with them.
Fashola noted that such encounters happened during periods when Nigeria was dealing with serious security concerns, underscoring the fact that global perceptions are often more nuanced.
He stressed that challenges are universal and do not define a nation’s character.
“No country is free of problems. What shapes a nation’s reputation is not the absence of challenges, but how it confronts and overcomes them,” he said.
