Betwixt Civil Liberty and National Sensibility: Implications of Nigeria’s Anti-Gay Law

Abstract

This paper interrogates Nigeria’s anti-gay sentiment and law in the context of the contemporary global gay rights controversy. By way of qualitative discourse, predicated of the secondary sources, the paper posits that the Nigerian anti-gay sentiment/law is a reflection of deep-seated socio-cultural cum ideological complexes of the generality of Nigerians vis-a-vis gay practice. The paper observes that the gay rights/law controversy in Nigeria adumbrates a clash of democracy and culture, which holds strategic implications for the country’s national interest and aspirations.

Keywords: National sensibility; civil liberty; gay practice; gay movement; anti-gay law (Nigeria)