Current Version
| Region | Nigeria |
| Issue | LGBT discrimination |
| Status | Illegal in some contexts |
| Start Date | Jan 25, 2019 |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | Section 17(2)(a) in The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states "every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law." However, it does not explicitly mention sexual orientation or gender identity. Since 2019, there are some limited protections based on sexual orientation: -Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (2019) issued by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). -Guidelines For the Management of Personal Data by Public Institutions in Nigeria (2020) -National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools with its Implementing Guidelines (2021) issued by the Federal Ministry of Education. -Compendium of Internal Policies (2021) issued by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency. -Civil Aviation Order (2024) issued by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. -National Identity Management Commission Information Security and Privacy Policy (2024) issued by the Federal Ministry of Interior. |
| Sources | http://www.nigeria-law.org/ConstitutionOfTheFederalRepublicOfNigeria.htm#Chapter_2 Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (2019) issued by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). https://nitda.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/NigeriaDataProtectionRegulation11.pdf Guidelines For the Management of Personal Data by Public Institutions in Nigeria (2020) https://nitda.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GuidelinesForImplementationOfNDPRInPublicInstitutionsFinal11.pdf National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools with its Implementing Guidelines (2021) issued by the Federal Ministry of Education. https://education.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/National-Policy-on-SSVFSN.pdf Compendium of Internal Policies (2021) issued by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency. https://nimasa.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Compendium.pdf Civil Aviation Order (2024) issued by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. https://www.ncaa.gov.ng/media/d1lf1f2w/civil-aviation-order.pdf (page 9) National Identity Management Commission Information Security and Privacy Policy (2024) issued by the Federal Ministry of Interior. https://nimc.gov.ng/pdfs/nimc_privacy_policy_2024.pdf https://nimc.gov.ng/privacy-policy |
| Federal Law | Yes |
Revision History (5)
edited by DaisyGeekyTrans. Adding start date to clear report. The status should remain some contexts as it’s prohibited in at least ONE area. No protections only applies if it’s dead zero.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value (Current) | |
|---|---|---|
| Start Date | 2019 | Jan 25, 2019 |
| Description | Section 17(2)(a) in The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states "every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law." Since 2019, there are some limited protections based on sexual orientation: -Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (2019) issued by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). -Guidelines For the Management of Personal Data by Public Institutions in Nigeria (2020) -National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools with its Implementing Guidelines (2021) issued by the Federal Ministry of Education. -Compendium of Internal Policies (2021) issued by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency. -Civil Aviation Order (2024) issued by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. -National Identity Management Commission Information Security and Privacy Policy (2024) issued by the Federal Ministry of Interior. | Section 17(2)(a) in The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states "every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law." However, it does not explicitly mention sexual orientation or gender identity. Since 2019, there are some limited protections based on sexual orientation: -Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (2019) issued by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). -Guidelines For the Management of Personal Data by Public Institutions in Nigeria (2020) -National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools with its Implementing Guidelines (2021) issued by the Federal Ministry of Education. -Compendium of Internal Policies (2021) issued by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency. -Civil Aviation Order (2024) issued by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. -National Identity Management Commission Information Security and Privacy Policy (2024) issued by the Federal Ministry of Interior. |
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| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | No protections | Illegal in some contexts |
| Start Date | (unknown) | 2019 |
| Description | Section 17(2)(a) in The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states "every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law." However, there are no explicit discrimination protections regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in Nigeria. | Section 17(2)(a) in The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states "every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law." Since 2019, there are some limited protections based on sexual orientation: -Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (2019) issued by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). -Guidelines For the Management of Personal Data by Public Institutions in Nigeria (2020) -National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools with its Implementing Guidelines (2021) issued by the Federal Ministry of Education. -Compendium of Internal Policies (2021) issued by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency. -Civil Aviation Order (2024) issued by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. -National Identity Management Commission Information Security and Privacy Policy (2024) issued by the Federal Ministry of Interior. |
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| Sources | http://www.nigeria-law.org/ConstitutionOfTheFederalRepublicOfNigeria.htm#Chapter_2 | http://www.nigeria-law.org/ConstitutionOfTheFederalRepublicOfNigeria.htm#Chapter_2 Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (2019) issued by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). https://nitda.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/NigeriaDataProtectionRegulation11.pdf Guidelines For the Management of Personal Data by Public Institutions in Nigeria (2020) https://nitda.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GuidelinesForImplementationOfNDPRInPublicInstitutionsFinal11.pdf National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools with its Implementing Guidelines (2021) issued by the Federal Ministry of Education. https://education.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/National-Policy-on-SSVFSN.pdf Compendium of Internal Policies (2021) issued by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency. https://nimasa.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Compendium.pdf Civil Aviation Order (2024) issued by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. https://www.ncaa.gov.ng/media/d1lf1f2w/civil-aviation-order.pdf (page 9) National Identity Management Commission Information Security and Privacy Policy (2024) issued by the Federal Ministry of Interior. https://nimc.gov.ng/pdfs/nimc_privacy_policy_2024.pdf https://nimc.gov.ng/privacy-policy |
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Reports (1)
- Status is not correct "The current Equaldex entry for “LGBT Discrimination” in Nigeria lists three sources that suggest LGBT protections exist in limited contexts. However, these documents do not constitute legal protection under any recognized international standard. Here’s why this entry should be removed or downgraded to “No Protections.”
1. The Child Rights Law No. 22/2019
• This law references non-discrimination based on sexual orientation, but only in the context of children’s welfare.
• It is not enforceable in courts for LGBT youth facing arrest, family abuse, or school expulsion.
• It does not override federal criminal law—including the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act (SSMPA) or the Penal Code, both of which still apply to minors in practice.
• There is no evidence of this clause being invoked to protect any LGBT child in Nigeria.
Conclusion: A non-enforced clause in a niche child law cannot be used to imply national anti-discrimination protection.
2. MRTV Broadcasting Guidelines (2020)
• These are media industry standards—not civil rights legislation.
• They suggest avoiding discriminatory portrayal of LGBT people but have no legal standing in court, nor do they protect individuals.
• LGBT Nigerians facing housing, employment, or police abuse cannot use this guideline to seek justice or prevent discrimination.
Conclusion: Regulating broadcast language ? legal protection. It’s a soft industry suggestion with no bearing on real-life discrimination.
3. Gender Policy on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (2022)
• This Ministry of Health document recognizes LGBT persons as a “key population” in public health outreach.
• It is part of a non-binding planning strategy, meant to inform programming—not establish rights or enforce legal standards.
• It is limited to healthcare contexts, does not include legal penalties for discrimination, and does not provide recourse when discrimination occurs.
Conclusion: Strategic inclusion ? protection. This is not a substitute for enforceable civil law.
This entry misleads readers into thinking Nigeria offers LGBT protections. In truth:
• The cited documents are narrow, non-binding, and unenforced
• They do not offer any legal recourse
• They are used to mask a hostile legal environment where LGBT people face state-backed persecution
This is not an opinion—it is supported by every credible legal and human rights source.
https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/nigeria/"
edited by Unknownmiles. Adding line to better space entry
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Section 17(2)(a) in The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states "every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law." However, there are no explicit discrimination protections regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in Nigeria. | Section 17(2)(a) in The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states "every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law." However, there are no explicit discrimination protections regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in Nigeria. |
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edited by Unknownmiles. setting as federal law, rewriting description, and removing unnecessary date
Helpful?
0 | Old Value (Original) | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Start Date | May 29, 1999 | (unknown) |
| Description | Although the discrimination protection clause protect citizens against all forms of discrimination, there are also provisions within the protection against discrimination that encourages "the evolution and promotion of family life" with a family having a "traditional" family connotation. | Section 17(2)(a) in The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states "every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law." However, there are no explicit discrimination protections regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in Nigeria. |
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| Federal Law | No | Yes |
| Sources | http://www.nigeria-law.org/ConstitutionOfTheFederalRepublicOfNigeria.htm#Chapter_4 | http://www.nigeria-law.org/ConstitutionOfTheFederalRepublicOfNigeria.htm#Chapter_2 |
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| Original entry | |
|---|---|
| Status | No protections |
| Start Date | May 29, 1999 |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | Although the discrimination protection clause protect citizens against all forms of discrimination, there are also provisions within the protection against discrimination that encourages "the evolution and promotion of family life" with a family having a "traditional" family connotation. |
| Sources | http://www.nigeria-law.org/ConstitutionOfTheFederalRepublicOfNigeria.htm#Chapter_4 |