Nigeria bans homosexual relationships

This past week, the current president of Nigeria, Goodluck Johnathan, passed a bill that outlaws homosexual relationships in the country. In his speech endorsing the bill, Johnathan states that the new law correlates with the nation's beliefs and strong conservative views. Those individuals who are currently in a homosexual relationship and/or is found to be supporting homosexual relationships, such as support groups and gay clubs, can be punished for up to 14 years in prison. Due to the passing of this law, various commentators have criticized Johnathan for using this new law as a way to endorse his popularity with the Nigerian people, as he plans to run again for elections in the following year. While the bill is mostly popular within Nigeria's borders, with the homosexual community being considered a minority group, the international effects are quite different.

Stephen Chukwumah, an HIV/AIDS advocate in Nigeria, expressed his concerns with the bill, as it prevents activists from reaching out to those in the homosexual community who are in need of assistance in dealing with the disease, as well as to those who are in need of the education in regards to HIV/AIDS.

Currently, 36 out of the 55 countries in Africa have laws that bans homosexual relationships and/or homosexual marriages. In recent years however, the passing of these laws have come to a slow process, due to the fact that many of the nations rely on foreign aid and these laws would potentially lessen or even halt the assistance coming into their nation. However, Nigeria is a special case in that it has no need to critically rely on foreign nations to keep a growing economy. As Nigeria exports $200mil worth of oil every year, mostly to Western countries, the threat of lack of foreign aid and investment is minimal at most.

The article can be read HERE.

By: Lauren Marie De Guzman