Nigeria: Treatment of Yoruba heterosexual married men with children who also practise bisexuality
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 4 April 2001 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | NGA36599.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Nigeria: Treatment of Yoruba heterosexual married men with children who also practise bisexuality, 4 April 2001, NGA36599.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4be7f5.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
No reports on the treatment heterosexual married men who also practise bisexuality among the Yoruba of Nigeria could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
Homosexuality is illegal in Nigeria (The News 24 May 1999; ILGA Africa Newsletter 21 Nov. 2000; AFROL n.d; ). According to The News of Lagos,
The laws of the Federation of Nigeria and Lagos, Chapter 42 of the criminal code, section 214, states that any person who "has carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature" or "permits a male person to have carnal knowledge of him or her against the order of nature is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years" (24 May 1999).
Nonetheless, The News further reports that gay culture is growing in cities such as Lagos, Kano, Port-Harcourt and many other cosmopolitan cities (ibid.). An International Lesbians and Gays Association (ILGA) Africa Newsletter for 2000 corroborates the above and adds that Alliance Rights Nigeria, a gays organization, "has 467 registered members though there are thousands of 'sagba's (the word Sagba refers to Homosexuals in Nigeria)" (ibid.).
The Islamic Sharia legal system, which was adopted by the state of Zamfara in northern Nigeria, "prescribes the death penalty for homosexuality, including the option of execution by the unusual method of pushing a wall over onto the condemned" (Planetout 13 Oct. 1999).
The founder of Alternative Lifestyles Foundation of Nigeria (ALFON) is an organization formed by Nigerian gays and lesbian activists "to seek recognition and equality for gays and lesbians," claims that "homosexuality is still one of Nigeria's biggest taboos ... we don't expect to have a victory over night, but we intend to talk about it" (n.d.).
For additional information on attitudes towards homosexuality in Nigeria please consult NGA34869.3 of 13 July 2000 and NGA32977.E of 12 October 1999.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
AFROL (Africa Online). n.d. "Legal Status of Homosexuals in Africa."
Alternative Lifestyles Foundation of Nigeria (ALFON). n.d. Joe Murnan. "Nigerians Organize and Vocalize."
3 Apr. 2000]
International Gays and Lesbians (ILGA) Africa Newsletter. 21 November 2000. "Alliance Rights Nigeria."
Planetout. 13 October 1999. "Islamic Law in Nigeria."
[Accessed: 3 Apr. 2001]
The News [Lagos]. 24 May 1999. Kelechi Obasi. "Some People Go the Extra-mile to Seek Sexual Satisfaction." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa News Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series.
Amnesty International Report 1999-2000.
Country Reports for 2000. 2001.
Keesing's Record of World Events.
IRB Databases. LEXIS/NEXIS
Resource Centre. Country File. Nigeria.
West Africa.
Internet sites including,
Africa News.
Religious Freedom.
Post Express Wired.
Vanguard.
Search Engines including:
Mamma
Metacrawler
