On January 7 2014, President Goodluck Jonathan signed Nigeria's Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill into law, which makes being gay punishable with 14 years in jail. Since the passing of the law, Nigeria has been under pressure from the international community to tone it down, as the criminalisation of people simply for the sexuality is regarded as a breach of human rights.
Also, since the law has been passed, the police and vigilante groups have swung into action arresting and harassing anyone suspected of being gay. However, the US consular chief in Nigeria, Mr Laidlaw, said that contrary to some people’s belief that the US might have special provision for gay people, the country had no such arrangement.
Mr Laidlaw added: “We don’t have any special provision for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community as per the visa application process and the procedure is the same with that of any other person. Although we believe in equal rights for all citizens, including the LGBT community, it is not a plus to anyone seeking to travel to the US."
Vice consul Amanda Roberson, advised Nigerians to be truthful while applying for the US visas. She added that there was no need for Nigerians to be desperate while seeking to travel to the US.
With Nigeria now regarded as a maturing democracy after the successful transition of power from President Jonathan to President Muhammadu Buhari, the US has been insisting that the government abolish laws that belong to the military era. However, Washington is refusing to grant persecuted gays the same rights as say Syrian refugees.
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