President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday, 13th January, 2014, signed the anti-gay bill, passed by the National Assembly into an Act, making it become a law binding on Nigerians. The new law not only prohibits same sex marriage, but also makes it a criminal offense to say or declare openly that one is in a same sex relationship. It even goes further to stipulate the penalty for anyone caught contravening this new law. The penalty for anyone who engages in a same-sex marriage relationship in Nigeria is 14 years while the penalty for anyone who “registers, operates, or participates in gay clubs, societies and organizations or directly or indirectly makes public show of same-sex amorous relationship in Nigeria commits an offence and shall each be liable on conviction to a term of 10 years in prison”. As this law becomes operational in Nigeria, Nigerians from all walks of life have either expressed their support for the new law or condemn it in totality.
