Change of Name in Nigeria: Cost & How To Do It (2023)- An individual may decide to change his or her name for any reason. Even though some people do it for business reasons, this is always the immediate result of marriage, divorce, adoption, or the extinction of a person’s name. If the justification looks reasonable, changing a name is not problematic.
In this post, we’ve covered everything you need to know about the conditions, qualifications, and procedures for changing your name in Nigeria.
REASONS FOR A NAME CHANGE
Marital issues are the most frequent cause of name changes. Other reasons could be related to personal issues, business dealings, or religious concerns. The following are some of the instances why you might need the document:
- Adopting a child
- Taking a new name after getting married
- To adopt a biological or adopted child
- Due to troubles at work, you might want to add another name to your personality.
- Other factors include shifts in nationality and religious connotations.
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ELIGIBILITY FOR A NAME CHANGE IN NIGERIA
You must first meet the prerequisites and conditions to start the name change process. The following conditions must be met in order to legally change your name in Nigeria:
- Age: In Nigeria, changing one’s name is only permissible for those who are older than 18, which is generally regarded as adulthood. According to the laws of this nation, a child’s parent or guardian must formally change the child’s name.
- Citizenship: The person requesting a name change must be a citizen of Nigeria. Because they can register as citizens and then request a name change, foreigners are not subject to restrictions.
- Reasons for Change: Those applying to change their names must have a strong reason for doing so. When it is later discovered that the change in name was made to deceive or violate the law, the name change will be ruled illegal, and the defaulter will be punished.
- New name: Don’t go there intending to use an awful moniker merely to gain a new name. It’s important to keep in mind that you won’t be able to use some names, such as those that are obscene or have a tribalist or racist tone.
Anyone wishing to change their name would need to meet the aforementioned requirements in addition to being clear with all financial institutions, not being bankrupt, and not having any financial liabilities against them.
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DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR CHANGE OF NAME
Before requesting a name change in Nigeria, keep the following documents separate because they must be submitted with your application:
⚫ A signed affidavit from the court attesting to the name change. It shouldn’t be more than a year old.
• Your declaration of your name change is reflected in the newspaper cutting advertisement. Additionally, it must be less than a year since the advertisement’s publication date.
• The statement or advertisement that you typed (in the form above) must be submitted.
⚫ Two passport-sized photos of your most recent appearance.
Request a demand draft for the publishing fees, as well as extra copies if needed.
• Another requirement is a letter of attestation from a reliable source.
• The modification will be officially announced.
An affidavit or statutory declaration is a document that shows your new name on official records. You can complete the process by waiting for the new name to be published in the Nigerian Gazette.
• You must extract a copy of the Official Gazette including your name and attach it to the new document application paperwork.
⚫ The chief registrar should be addressed in your application letter.
⚫ You will also be asked to provide personal information such as your date and place of birth, marital status, and current address.
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PROCEDURES FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN NIGERIA (2023)
The processes for changing your name should be followed to ensure a smooth transition.
#1: DEPOSE TO AN AFFIDAVIT
Swearing an Affidavit of Change of Name, also known as a Deed Pool, is the first stage. You can do this by walking to a neighboring High Court and finishing the work there in the Registry division.
You should write your declaration in your own words and include a statement about your name change. The affidavit should state the reasons why you changed your name because it will be utilized in the future to prove your previous name.
#2: PUBLICIZE THE NEW NAME
The next step is to let everyone know that you’re changing to a new name and won’t be using your old one anymore. You can do this by submitting your new name for publication in a reputable daily newspaper like The Nation, Guardian, or Punch. Make sure all of your key documents reflect your new name by double-checking them.
#3: GET YOUR NAME LISTED IN THE GAZETTE
To have your new name published in Nigeria’s official gazette, you must submit a request in writing to the Civil Registry’s Department of Publication. For this, fees of N5000 or more are typical. Once your new name appears in the gazette, print a copy of the page indicating the change.
#4: SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR NEW DOCUMENTS WITH YOUR NAME ON THEM
You must apply for new official documents that reflect your new name once it has been published in the Official Nigerian Gazette. You should include a copy of the name from the Official Gazette with your application.
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WHERE CAN I GET CHANGE OF NAME APPLICATION FORMS AND HOW LONG DO THEY TAKE?
The average wait time to apply for and change your name is between 5 and 21 working days. To speed up the process, submit the application along with other registrations at the National Civil Registration Office, which is situated at Sokode Crescent and Michael Okpara Street in Zone 5, Wuse, FCT Abuja. https://www.nigeria.gov.ng/
Cost of a Change of Name in Nigeria
In Nigeria, a non-refundable fee of 5,000 is required for newspaper publication for a name change; in reality, more amount is required to cover the cost of processing the application. This fee is applicable to all publications from The Guardian, Punch, Tribune, and Sun.
In conclusion, you must already be aware of how to alter your name in Nigeria. The steps and instructions we’ve outlined here are simple to follow and apply.
