Citizenship: How to acquire and loose it

Citizenship is the status enjoyed by nationals of a country which entitle them to full legal economic, social and political rights. Citizens therefore entitle to vote and be voted for in his country.

HOW TO ACQUIRE CITIZENSHIP

1. Citizenship by birth: any one born in the country in which is parents are citizen automatically becomes a citizen of that country.

• Citizen by descent: in some country, some can become a citizen if he can show that his grandparents are/were citizens of the country.

• Citizen by registration: this is citizenship acquired by registering with the appropriate authority in a country and usually applies to those who which to acquire citizenship by virtue of marriage to a citizen.

• Honorary citizenship: An honorary citizen is one on whom the citizenship of another country is conferred as a mark of honor. Heads of state sometimes acquire this sort of citizenship. Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka is also a notable example.

• Citizenship by naturalization: this is citizenship acquired by foreigners in another country after they have met some acquirements. Such acquirement differs from one country to another.

WAYS OF LOOSING CITIZENSHIP

• If a citizen renounces his citizenship.
• If the citizen is found guilty reasonable felony.
• A citizen could forfeit his acquired citizenship if the government of his country denies him of such right.

• If a naturalized citizen is jailed for more than three years within seven years he acquired the citizenship.

• If the activities pf the citizen are prejudicial to the corporate existence and interest of the country .

DUTIES AND OBLIGATION OF A CITIZEN

• LAW ABIDING: every citizen is expected to obey all the laws of his country including traffic laws irrespective of his position.

• PAYMENT OF TAXES: a good citizen is expected to pay  all the taxes due to him as at when due from which government can provide him and others essential services.

• DEFENCE OF THE COUNTRY: a citizen should be prepared to defend his country when it is threatened.

• CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES:  it is also the responsibility of a good citizen to register during registration exercise and vote during elections if qualified to do so.

• ASSISTING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS: a good citizen should always be prepared to assist the police and other law enforcement agents in reducing crime rate in the country by giving them useful information.

EVALUATION:

• Enumerate five ways of losing citizenship.
• What are the duties and obligations of a citizen to a state?

ASSIGNMENT

• What is naturalization?
• How can a naturalized citizen forfeit his citizenship?
• Define citizenship. 
• how can citizenship be acquired?