Do You Know Your Right As Nigerian Citizen? 9 Rights You Should Know

A native or naturalized person who pays allegiance to and is entitled to protection from a government is referred to as a “citizen“
Using this definition, it will become clear that there is a social contract between the people and the authority they swear allegiance to.

This contract consists of two parts: the citizen’s obligation to uphold the laws of the nation and the government’s commitment to granting the citizen certain rights.

The Nigerian Constitution protects the rights of a Nigerian citizen. In particular, Section IV of the Constitution lists Nigerian citizens’ fundamental rights. What are these rights, and what do they mean to you?

1. Right to life
As Nigerians, the government has a duty not to kill you and to ensure your life is protected and not interfered with. But there is an exception:

No Nigerian citizen should be discriminated against because of their ethnicity, religion, disability, political opinion, place of origin, circumstance of birth, sex and so on. In case we left anything out, the point is, don’t discriminate.

9. Right to own property
Nigerian citizens have the right to acquire and own immovable property. If the government forcefully acquires your property, you can claim compensation. You can also rightfully sue them in court.

Other rights like access to education, healthcare and shelter can be claimed depending on the resources in a state. It’s important to note that while these rights exist, you may need to follow up on them if they’re infringed upon. Know your rights, but just as importantly, know a lawyer.