- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ Imprisonment as punishment
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Restricted
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✖ Single only
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Illegal
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (5-year deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- N/A
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Homosexual activity in Abuja Federal Capital Territory is illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
Current status
Since Sep 30, 1960
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
The Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, Federal Provisions Act, which applies to all states in Northern Nigeria, criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity. It came into effect in September of 1960.
Section 284 of the Penal Code states "Whoever has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years and shall also be liable to fine."
Section 284 of the Penal Code states "Whoever has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years and shall also be liable to fine."
Censorship of LGBT issues in Abuja Federal Capital Territory is imprisonment as punishment.
Current status
Since Dec 30, 2013
Imprisonment as punishment under federal Nigeria law
In addition to criminalizing homosexuality, Nigeria has enacted legislation that would make it illegal for heterosexual family members, allies and friends of LGBT people to be supportive. According to Nigerian law, a heterosexual ally "who administers, witnesses, abets or aids" any form of gender non-conforming and homosexual activity could receive a 10-year jail sentence. The censorship was imposed by the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act of 2013.
Right to change legal gender in Abuja Federal Capital Territory is illegal.
Current status
Illegal under federal Nigeria law
Transgender people are not able to change their legal gender, and crossdressing is illegal in 12 states in Northern Nigeria.
Gender-affirming care in Abuja Federal Capital Territory is restricted.
Current status
Restricted under federal Nigeria law
In Nigeria, surgical procedures like orchiectomy, penectomy, phalloplasty and metoidioplasty are not available. Other gender-affirming care services such as laser hair removal, hormone therapy and trachea shave, are accessible in Nigeria, however are often too expensive for the people who need them.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Abuja Federal Capital Territory is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized under federal Nigeria law
You cannot legally identify as non-binary in Nigeria.
LGBT discrimination in Abuja Federal Capital Territory is illegal in some contexts.
Current status
Since 2019
Illegal in some contexts under federal Nigeria law
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.
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.
LGBT employment discrimination in Abuja Federal Capital Territory is no protections.
Current status
No protections under federal Nigeria law
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 in regards to employment discrimination regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in Nigeria.
However, there are no explicit discrimination protections in regards to employment discrimination regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in Nigeria.
LGBT housing discrimination in Abuja Federal Capital Territory is no protections.
Current status
No protections under federal Nigeria law
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 in regards to housing discrimination regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in Nigeria.
However, there are no explicit discrimination protections in regards to housing discrimination regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in Nigeria.
Same-sex adoption in Abuja Federal Capital Territory is single only.
Current status
Single only under federal Nigeria law
Information regarding same-sex couples adopting children is very limited. According to the US Department of State, same-sex married couples are explicitly not allowed to adopt children in Nigeria. However, they do not mention anything about single gay people adopting children. According to Adoptive Families, single people may adopt a child of the same sex. Regarding same-sex adoption, they say that it is not expressly prohibited, but it is not clear where the government stands.
Intersex infant surgery in Abuja Federal Capital Territory is not banned.
Current status
Not banned under federal Nigeria law
There are no bans on genital 'normalisation' surgeries performed on intersex infants in Nigeria.
Blood donations by MSMs in Abuja Federal Capital Territory is banned (5-year deferral).
Current status
Banned (5-year deferral) under federal Nigeria law
Nigeria's National Blood Service Agency requires blood donors to lead a "sexually safe lifestyle.” In the donor form, it clarifies that you can’t have had "male to male sex" in the past five years.
Conversion therapy in Abuja Federal Capital Territory is not banned.
Current status
Not banned under federal Nigeria law
Equal age of consent in Abuja Federal Capital Territory is n/a.
Current status
Since Jun 1, 1916
N/A under federal Nigeria law
Homosexuality is illegal, so there is no age of consent.
Legal Rights
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