How Nigerians Living In Canada Can Become Citizens

Published

2 years ago

April 10, 2024

Becoming a Canadian citizen is the ultimate desire of many immigrants living in Canada as the North American country boasts of amazing life opportunities.

For immigrants who intend to settle in Canada, applying to become a citizen is often a vital step in putting down roots in the country.

Canadian citizenship gives the holder the right to live, work, and study in the country without restrictions.

Citizenship opens up new opportunities for the holder, such as the ability to apply for jobs that are only available to Canadian citizens.

It also affords the individual access to public services, including education and healthcare, that are sometimes impermissible to foreigners.

Nigerian nationals are eligible for Canadian citizenship, but they have to only go through the application process and the eligibility requirements.

For Nigerians who want to apply to become a Canadian citizen, they must meet certain criteria, which are treated below:

1. Be a permanent resident of Canada

For Nigerians to become Canadian citizens, they must be residents of Canada. This means that Nigerians who want to apply for citizenship must be residing in any part of Canada.

2. Live in Canada for at least three years

Any Nigerian who wants to be a citizen of Canada must have lived in Canada for at least three out of the last five years (1,095 days in total).

3. Have filed all taxes

Canada, like other developed countries, takes their tax payments with seriousness. It is expedient for Nigerians who want to apply for citizenship in Canada to have filed all their taxes.

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4. Have good knowledge of Canada
One of the eligibility requirements for Nigerians to become citizens is to know about Canada’s history, languages, and culture to pass a test.

5. Be English or French language proficient

Any Nigerian who wants to be a Canadian citizen must prove the required language skills in English or French. English and French are co-official languages of Canada.

However, regardless of the requirements stated above, no Nigerian national can become a Canadian citizen if they are prohibited under the Citizenship Act.

For example, any Nigerian or other foreigner currently serving a prison term or on parole or probation, cannot apply for citizenship.

However, one can apply for citizenship once the conviction has been spent.

Also, it is pertinent to note that time spent in prison, on parole, or probation cannot be counted towards the time in Canada when proving to have lived in the country for the required period.

Indian Court Denies Bail To Nigerian Man Over Drug Charges

Published

41 minutes ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

A court in India has denied bail to a 44-year-old Nigerian national, Cristian Soporuchukwu, who is currently facing drug trafficking charges in the country.

Cristian Soporuchukwu initially entered India on a business visa but was later arrested over allegations of involvement in the sale of hard drugs.

Reports indicated that after arriving in India, Soporuchukwu travelled through Goa, Delhi, and Mumbai, where he allegedly established links with suspected drug traffickers.

He was accused of purchasing MDMA crystals and distributing them to college students and information technology workers.

According to reports, operatives of the Beguru Police arrested Cristian Soporuchukwu in April 2025 for allegedly selling MDMA crystals around Begur Lake and the AECS Layout Road area.

The New Indian Express reported that the High Court of Karnataka subsequently dismissed the Nigerian’s bail application.

“The anti-narcotics wing seized about 1 kg of MDMA crystals, a pocket weighing machine, 10 zip-lock covers, a mobile phone and a scooter from him,” the report stated.

Justice V. Srishananda, while ruling on the bail application, reportedly held that errors relating to the grounds of arrest could not automatically justify bail in serious narcotics-related offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, NDPS, Act.

The court further noted that Cristian Soporuchukwu had allegedly overstayed his visa in India, according to the report.

Headline

Strait Of Hormuz: US Announces Sanctions Against Iran

Published

1 hour ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States Treasury has announced sanctions against Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority.

Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said this in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement extended the threat of sanctions to anyone paying the fees, saying they may be providing support to and receiving services from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and therefore may be exposed to sanctions risk.

“The Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade is proof that Economic Fury has left the regime desperate for cash.

“Treasury has deprived the Iranian regime of revenue for their weapons programs, terrorist proxies, and nuclear ambitions,” Bessent said.

Bessent added that the US has succeeded in disrupting tens of billions of dollars’ worth of revenue from being accessible to Tehran.

Headline

US Launches New Airstrikes On Iran

Published

1 hour ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States has launched new airstrikes in southern Iran.

The strike shot down four one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz and then a ground control site.

A US official revealed that American forces struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone.

The official described the strikes as purely defensive, saying the US intended to maintain the ceasefire.

Report says this is the second time in three days that the US has carried out self-defense strikes against Iranian military targets in southern Iran.

Recall that on Monday the US carried out airstrikes against Iranian missile locations and boats that US Central Command said were preparing to launch mines in the Strait of Hormuz.