In our series of letters from African writers, novelist Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani considers the Nigerian government's move to crack down on foreign models in adverts.
Some in the British and American media have interpreted Nigeria's prohibition on the use of foreign models as a ban on white people and foreign accents, and an attempt to free ourselves from a colonial mentality.
But this ignores the fact that there are many Nigerians at home and abroad with British and American accents - authentic or fake - as well as some Nigerians who are blonde-haired and blue-eyed.
My good friend, Jackie Farris, was born to white American parents in Florida in the US, but has made Nigeria her permanent residence for more than 25 years, and has a green Nigerian passport to show for it.
There are also many white women married to Nigerian men. While Nigerian immigration law does not grant automatic citizenship to a foreign man who marries a Nigerian woman, foreign women who marry Nigerian men are allowed to hold Nigerian passports.
The new law, which covers foreign models and voice-over artists in adverts released within the country and takes effect on 1 October, cannot prevent these bona fide citizens of Nigeria from being featured in commercials, irrespective of the colour of their skin.
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