Former Lagos State Governor and immediate past Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, has rejected suggestions that he possesses dual citizenship, stating firmly that his Nigerian identity is a deliberate choice rooted in conviction and pride.

Fashola made the clarification on Tuesday in Abuja while delivering the keynote address at the Nigeria Reputation Summit 2026, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations. His remarks focused on issues of national identity, migration, patriotism and how Nigeria is perceived globally.

He called on Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora to collectively embrace responsibility for the nation and its problems, lamenting that many citizens often distance themselves from national challenges instead of seeing them as shared concerns. While acknowledging that the Nigerian Constitution permits dual citizenship, Fashola stressed that he remains solely a Nigerian and makes no apology for that stance, describing himself as “proudly and arrogantly Nigerian.”

The former governor noted that his entire educational journey took place within Nigeria and expressed confidence in the country’s ability to recover and rebuild whatever it may seem to have lost, provided citizens remain committed and united.

Despite ongoing challenges, Fashola said Nigeria is still a country of vast opportunities and upward social mobility, where individuals from modest backgrounds have risen to occupy positions of influence and leadership.

He cautioned against judging the nation by the actions of a few, arguing that such individuals do not reflect the character and values of the majority of Nigerians. Drawing from his personal experiences abroad, Fashola recalled being warmly received as a Nigerian even during periods of heightened insecurity at home.

According to him, no country is free from difficulties, and a nation’s reputation is ultimately determined by how it confronts its challenges and responds to them.