Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, has attracted several criticisms from Nigerians following her recent announcement of new measures on immigrants.
She revealed that there will be a ban on migrants who claim benefits from becoming UK citizens.
In Badenoch’s first major policy announcement as a Tory leader, applicants will face strict conditions before the right to settle is granted, which will include demonstrating that they have never claimed benefits or used social housing.
Among the list of measures also includes that “they must also show that their income is high enough to ensure they and their families will be ‘net contributors’ to the economy rather than a burden.
Those with criminal convictions will automatically be barred from applying.
Those arriving on work visas who end up dropping out of work would have their visas cancelled and face deportation.
Rules will also be brought in to prevent people who enter the UK illegally or who overstay their visas from ever being allowed to settle here permanently.
New conditions for those seeking to gain British citizenship would also be imposed, including increasing the waiting period from one year to five.”
Badenoch mentioned that she will get tough after acknowledging ‘mistakes’ on immigration by the last Conservative government.
She said, “Our country is not a dormitory, it’s our home. The right to citizenship and permanent residency should only go to those who have demonstrated a real commitment to the UK.
The Conservative Party is under new leadership. We’re going to tell the hard truths about immigration.
The pace of immigration has been too quick and the numbers coming too high for meaningful integration.
We need to slow down the track for citizenship. A UK passport should be a privilege, not an automatic right.”
She said policy changes being introduced by Labour would ‘actually make it easier for illegal immigrants to stay in the UK, let alone legal migrants. No one can trust Labour on immigration.
Nigerians, upon coming across her plan for migrants, expressed their disappointments at her statement, describing her as a puppet.
Here are some reactions.
@OurFavOnlineDoc: Kemi Badenoch got a uk passport through birth citizenship in 1980- just one year before birth citizenship was abolished in UK.
She never worked for citizenship.
She never had to spend any time just to get citizenship. She was merely born and got gifted citizenship. She got a uk passport as a lottery from nature.
It’s quite interesting that someone who narrowly benefitted from the magnanimity of the uk immigration policy will be thinking of how to burn the same ladder, blow the same bridges, and lock the same gates that Providence kindly opened for her.
Because tell me why there are countries like Canada offering citizenship within 3years of living in the country but the UK if thinking of a policy that only offers a British passport after 15years of slavery and 40% of taxes every year.
Anyway, if as Africans we built our own countries, We would not be here crying and wailing about another country’s citizenship.
@ikjoyuzor: This thing Kemi is pushing is going to fly selectively. The targets are unfortunately not organised. Indians mostly, and Pakistanis know what to do to get some kind of waiver. Real Nigerians, those born in Nigeria, in the UK need to organise themselves not just as a voting bloc, BUT also being MPs.
@Jidekuje: Beneficiaries of benevolence are always the most vocal people to kick against people benefitting from such benevolence. Why is that so?
@KayMandla: It won't fly. The UK’s economy will suffer greatly because it needs talent. For example, no serious professional will choose the UK over other countries that offer a more lenient path to citizenship.
@Itzpelumi: It’s always the black community. If the same was done to you, will you be able to contest for prime minister?
@djokaymegamixer: Kemi Badenoch is saying what she thinks the British want to hear. Let's see if that works for her.
I said last year that the Conservatives will come forward with a plan to fix our immigration system. Today I’ve announced the first part: that living here has to mean something.
— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) February 6, 2025
That means making bold changes to who we allow to live in Britain, and how they apply.
marcel_umeh: Kemi what is really your problem??
fatboy_lagos: Coming from someone who became a British citizen because her mom birthed her on a visitors visa
ade.s.uwa: Kemi, Kemi… ahhh! Trying to shut down a system that benefited you? Wow. But honestly, this is typical. Some Nigerians abroad will even go as far as exposing the secrets of their own community just to stay ahead. It is well.
Whenever I tell Nigerians to explore other European countries and leave the UK, Canada, and the US alone for now, they always say, “But the language barrier!” Come on! Nigerians are resilient, hardworking, and adaptable—they can excel in any situation.
Try Poland, Switzerland, Denmark, and many more. Yes, it takes sacrifice, but you can do it. I personally learned three languages when I was 36—so trust me, it’s possible!
_themainfranz_: My dear sister trying to be a patriot still wouldn’t change your skin color in their eyes… most immigrants do the voting if you make things very stringent you’d never be PM
princess_nasa: Dear Kemi, my question is, if you were subjected to these same rules, would you have gotten to the level you are now? Don't burn the bridge after crossing. Thank you
Let’s break… pic.twitter.com/AeETfO3XeR
