Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate - Politics - Nairaland
Nairaland Forum › Nairaland General › Politics › Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate (4161 Views)
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| Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by Krucifax(op): 11:13pm On Nov 13, 2025 |
The Lagos State Government is enacting a Lagos Indegenship Certificate program. Below is an analysis of the danger and why its a slippery slope to discord,disuntiy and the fractioning of Nigeria. 1. How This Could Lead to Discrimination Against Other Nigerians While the initiative aims at organization and authentication, indigeneship systems in Nigeria have historically produced discrimination in practice. The new digital version could amplify such risks if not properly regulated. a. Access to Public Services If the certificate becomes a requirement for: school admissions bursaries/scholarships civil service recruitment government assistance programs political appointments …then non-indigenes (even lifelong Lagos residents) may be unfairly excluded. b. Reinforcing “Indigene vs. Settler” Divide Nigeria already struggles with conflicts around “indigeneity” (e.g., Jos, Abuja, Kaduna). A digital, state-backed verification might: harden identity boundaries create “tiers” of citizenship encourage ethnic profiling c. Employment Discrimination Some states already unofficially prefer indigenes in recruitment. Digitizing proof of indigeneship may: make such discrimination more systematic embed exclusion in automated systems d. Political Marginalization Political participation could be affected if: only indigenes can hold certain positions political benefits/resources are tied to indigeneship mandates Digital verification makes these exclusions easier to enforce. 2. Is This Compatible With the Nigerian Constitution? It depends on how it is used. The Constitution allows cultural identity, but prohibits discrimination based on origin, ethnicity or place of birth. Relevant Constitutional Provisions Section 42(1) – Prohibits discrimination on the basis of: ethnic group place of origin community circumstances of birth religion, sex or political opinion If indigeneship certificates are used to limit access to government services or opportunities, this can violate Section 42. Section 15(2) – Federal character principle Requires governments to promote national unity and avoid discrimination. Section 14(3) – Opposes dominance of one group within a state or local government. Section 25–28 – Citizenship Nigerians have equal citizenship; no category of “second-class” Nigerians is recognised. Case Law (Important) Nigerian courts have repeatedly ruled that treating a Nigerian as “less entitled” in a state where they reside violates constitutional equality. Examples include: Attorney General of Lagos State v. Eko Hotels Several Court of Appeal and Supreme Court comments on indigene vs. resident conflicts. Conclusion on Constitutionality Legal if used only for cultural documentation (traditional identity, genealogy). Potentially unconstitutional if used to deny equal rights, employment, scholarships, education admission, or public services. 3. Implications for Nigerians Born in Lagos but Not “Indigenes” These individuals—who may know no other home—are the most vulnerable to exclusion. a. “Citizens but not accepted” They may be: born in Lagos schooled in Lagos paying taxes in Lagos …but still excluded from: state benefits government jobs education quotas local rights and opportunities b. Digital Exclusion Becomes Harder to Challenge Once the identity is encoded into a database with barcode verification, a non-indigene: cannot negotiate cannot appeal informally may be automatically screened out of opportunities “Automation” may look neutral but can embed bias more deeply. c. Social Tension and Alienation Being told you “don’t belong” in your birthplace can generate: resentment ethnic polarization political friction d. Reduced Mobility If every state begins digitizing indigene status, Nigerians may face: restricted access outside ancestral states limited job markets entrenched regional identity at the expense of national unity This contradicts freedom of movement and residence under Section 41. 4. Potential Positive Uses (for balance) To be fair, the system is not inherently discriminatory. It could be positive if: used only for cultural identity preservation not required for public services not linked to opportunities or rights data protection and anti-discrimination laws guide implementation The key issue is how government institutions apply it. 5. Overall Assessment The digital certificate is not unconstitutional by itself, but becomes unconstitutional if used to: restrict rights deny services discriminate in employment exclude residents determine educational or political eligibility For Nigerians born in Lagos but not “indigenes,” the danger is becoming digitally and institutionally marginalized in a state they call home. Bear in mind that there already exist a state of origin document the type required for Nigerian passport application. The move by the Lagos state Goverment smacks of a greater and undisclosed agenda. Lagos was built by Nigerians. It enjoys its esteemed status not because of the efforts of any one tribal group but the collective efforts of Nigerian from all regions. Starting from being made the state capital by the Federal Goverment this singular act is what spurred its growth by attracting millions of Nigerian from all over Nigeria who came to work and trade and live.These Nigerian set up roots and generations have been born into Lagos that know no where else as home! This is what created the success of Lagos and the legacy endures to this day. The evidence is all around as if it had been the efforts of a singular tribe then neighbouring states like Oyo,Osun,Ogun,Ekiti etc would have had the same status which they do not. This is a warning call to all parties and federal goverment that the problem this can forment is one that can not be predicted. 6 Likes 3 Shares |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by FreeStuffsNG: 11:25pm On Nov 13, 2025 |
OP, it's obvious that you are dabbling into what you don't know. Lagos indigenship Certificate is as old as Lagos State itself. It has always been in use for all those things including admission, bursary, employment, filling national character slots meant for Lagos. If you are being honest, you will admit that your own state has same so drop the hypocrisy  28 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by malali: 11:32pm On Nov 13, 2025 |
This is illegal and unconstitutional on a federal level. The Lagos State Indigeneship Automated Certificate is a sleekly disguised form of digital discrimination. By institutionalizing “indigene status,” the government effectively divides residents into first-class citizens and others, contradicting the 1999 Constitution’s guarantee of equality and freedom from discrimination (Section 42). In a cosmopolitan state built by migrants, codifying ancestry into a digital gatekeeper for access to schools, jobs, or benefits is regressive. It risks excluding millions of Lagos-born Nigerians whose families migrated generations ago. Automation doesn’t sanitize bias, it only makes discrimination more efficient. The Attorney General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi should step in and uphold the constitution. 6 Likes 2 Shares |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by MEGAWATCH: 11:41pm On Nov 13, 2025 |
Since Peter Obi worn Tinubu in Lagos, they are just afraid of themselves for the future...🤣🤣🤣 I've never seen people so afraid like the Ronu people. Even inside their families, they are afraid of each other. Example Seyi Tinubu and Remi Tinubu. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 8 Likes |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by pdppower: 12:10am On Nov 14, 2025 |
FreeStuffsNG: 1 Like |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by DeepSight(m): 12:53am On Nov 14, 2025 |
OP don't blaspheme are you not aware that Lagos was built by Bola Tinubu shortly after he met Noah just after the great flood? He directed the waters and created the Lagos Lagoon, formed the island and creeks and breathed life into the first Lagosian around 10,000 BC. 5 Likes |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by Kdon2: 1:58am On Nov 14, 2025 |
Krucifax:This one only see the danger. Ibo for a reason I m sure. 5 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by Kdon2: 2:07am On Nov 14, 2025 |
malali:Another ibo ranting here! Yet the next minute they want biafla. 16 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by Kdon2: 2:08am On Nov 14, 2025 |
MEGAWATCH:Another ibo yet again. Yet they want biafla but don't want to leave Lagos. Go your states. Lagos no be your state. 15 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by Kdon2: 2:10am On Nov 14, 2025 |
Krucifax:I knew instinctively that ibos will cry their eyes out over this news. Good one from Lagos govt😜 12 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by Ttalk: 2:27am On Nov 14, 2025 |
FreeStuffsNG:Thank you for schooling the ignorant boy. Indigeneship certificate has been as old as the state. Oooo Ibo, face your state and get your Indigeneship certificate 25 Likes |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by lwisee: 2:43am On Nov 14, 2025 |
Op Go collect your own for Owerri 12 Likes |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by Ttalk: 3:09am On Nov 14, 2025 |
malali:Next time, I suggest you read the constitution before you comment on the constitution. Indigenes of states is recognized by the constitution. Section 147 (3j recognizes indigenes of states Section 46 4 (b) 1 also differentiates between indigent citizens and citizens. Therefore recognizing indigenes as separate qualification from ordinary citizens. The constitution under “definitions” in Part IV. Section 318 (1j also recognizes indigenes of a state as people whose grandparents were members of the community indigenous to that state. Not a member of a community in that state but a community indigenous to that state. Under the constitution as defined in section 318, you are only recognized as “belonging” to a state if your grandparents are a member of an Indigenous community from that state. An ibo man can never be an indigene of Lagos under the constitution no matter how long he is resident in Lagos. 25 Likes 2 Shares |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by Slytiger: 3:19am On Nov 14, 2025 |
Too long to read but Indigene certificate in Lagos has been around like forever. They are just digitizing it. 10 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by malali: 3:27am On Nov 14, 2025 |
Ttalk:Constitutions often contain legacy identity clauses, but weaponizing ancestry to gate access to services, education, or state benefits becomes discriminatory under modern human-rights norms. Nigeria’s Constitution forbids discrimination based on community, ethnic group, or place of origin. When states operationalize indigeneship in ways that exclude long-term residents, Lagos-born children, or multi-generational families who built the city, they convert an identity definition into a mechanism of inequality. 1 Like 1 Share |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by malali: 3:30am On Nov 14, 2025 |
Kdon2:I am Nigerian. I am probably more Lagosian than you. But its discriminatory and unconstitutional Abuja can also start doing digital indigeneship and stating only Abuja indigenes can be appointed and elected in Abuja. 1 Like |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by Christistruth00: 7:13am On Nov 14, 2025 |
There is no danger in it Lagos did nothing wrong identifying and protecting the indigenous people 20 Likes |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by Christistruth00: 7:16am On Nov 14, 2025 |
malali:We are very happy for Abuja to do that. Why are you always so antagonistic towards SW Governors looking after their own people, why ? Anambra is looking after its indigenes! We are not dragging Anambra with you. 19 Likes
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| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by Kukutente23: 7:25am On Nov 14, 2025 |
Come o Se na on top Lagos indigenes you write so long a poem How does it affect you? Anyways, the fact is if this is done right, even Sanwo, Ambo and Tinubu of Iragbiji will not have right to that certificate It will actually be GRV that will get the certificate But we all know what they are after so it's just another crude joke in jungle Naija 2 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by Christistruth00: 7:29am On Nov 14, 2025 |
Kukutente23:They will have the right Ambode and Sanwo Olu mothers are indigenous Lagosians In Yorubaland Indigeneship can also be through the mother 16 Likes |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by Kukutente23: 7:32am On Nov 14, 2025 |
Christistruth00:Where did you get that from? Ambode's mother is from Ondo Sanwo's mother is from Oyo Anyways, my point still stands because GRV's father is indigent to Lagos and his mother as well. So he's a full bred lagosian and will get the certificate before any of the aforementioned 3 that's even if they ever get it That's in a sane setting o 1 Like |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by FearlessYoruba: 7:36am On Nov 14, 2025 |
Osuruike people at it again  1 Like |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by Christistruth03: 7:38am On Nov 14, 2025 |
Kukutente23:Ambode’s mother is from Epe , Lagos State and that was where Ambode was born Sanwo Olu’s mother is from the Cole family of Lagos island which was where Sanwo Olu was also born 16 Likes |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by malali: 7:40am On Nov 14, 2025 |
Christistruth00:Soludo is also wrong. 2 wrongs don't make a right. As a responsible citizen, you should strive to correct the ills, not to turn the country into a jungle and everybody doing as they like...... 1 Like |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by FearlessYoruba: 7:40am On Nov 14, 2025 |
lwisee:He shouldn't forget to collect gala and malt as well 7 Likes |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by Christistruth03: 7:41am On Nov 14, 2025*. Modified: 8:00am On Nov 14, 2025 |
malali:That is not our Business Let every look after their own indigenes 4 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by FearlessYoruba: 7:42am On Nov 14, 2025 |
Christistruth00:Who will want to have anything to do with cursed Galatasaray state ? 2 Likes |
| Re: Dangers Of The Lagos Indegenship Certificate by alizma: 7:47am On Nov 14, 2025 |
What is wrong with some people self? Preferential treatment has always been given to indigenous people of many states in Nigeria when it comes to areas you mentioned, why the noise about Lagos? In some states in this country, indigenous students don't pay the same school fee as non indigen in the state own university. 9 Likes |
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