Nigeria Gay Travel Index 2026
Score = Legal 7/60 + Scene 0/40 = 7/100 · thin scene coverage — legal-weighted provisional score
Updated 15 Oct 2026 · release 2026.3.
A live score, not an annual report — it recomputes as laws, rulings and the scene itself change. See what moved in 2026.
Legal composite · Legal milestones · Scene on the ground · Frequently asked questions
Same-sex intimacy is criminalized or actively repressed here. Consult your government travel advisories before any trip; this listing is informational, not an endorsement of travel.
Legal composite — 7/60 points
| Criminalization | Death penalty (north) |
|---|---|
| Partnership | ● No not recognised |
| Anti-discrimination | ● No |
| Gender recognition | Not possible — no legal gender recognition |
| Enforcement reality | Active enforcement — arrests and prosecutions continue |
Research note: HDT/TIER: mass arrests nationwide; Sharia north death — GayOut Index 2026.3 legal research (ILGA World / Human Dignity Trust / Rainbow Europe / Equaldex).
Legal composite, five components
Fulfilment per component (100 = maximum). Weights: criminalisation 35% · partnership 20% · enforcement 20% · anti-discrimination 15% · gender recognition 10%.
Legal milestones
Background, not travel advice — how the current status came to be. For planning a trip, rely on the current score, tier and scene sections above; 2026 movements are tracked in the sourced change log.
- 1916The colonial Criminal Code criminalized carnal knowledge against the order of nature, laying the foundation for modern criminalization with up to 14 years in prison. ↗
- 2000Twelve northern states adopted Sharia-based criminal codes that introduced the death penalty for same-sex conduct between Muslims. ↗
- 2014President Goodluck Jonathan signed the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, banning same-sex unions, LGBTQ organizations and public displays of affection, with up to 14 years imprisonment. ↗
- 2022A court ruling found certain provisions of the act unconstitutional, giving LGBTQ organizations narrow room to exist despite continuing criminalization. ↗
- TodaySame-sex activity remained illegal nationwide, punished by up to 14 years in the south and by death under Sharia in northern states. ↗
Sources: ILGA World · Human Dignity Trust · Equaldex. Each milestone links to a reference source ↗.
Scene on the ground — 0/40 points
Detailed scene metrics (for researchers)
| Gay bars per million | 0 |
|---|---|
| Saunas per million | 0 |
| Events per million | 0 |
| Coverage grade | — |
| Scene score | 0/40 (raw scene index 0/100) |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nigeria safe for gay travellers?
Nigeria is rated Death-penalty risk on the GayOut Gay Travel Index 2026: same-sex intimacy is criminalized and can carry the death penalty. Its legal safety component is 7/60. On enforcement reality, arrests and prosecutions continue.
Is same-sex marriage legal in Nigeria?
No. Same-sex marriage is not legal in Nigeria. Overall legal status: Death penalty (north).
Does Nigeria have a gay scene?
GayOut currently lists no LGBTQ+ venues in Nigeria, so any gay scene is limited, informal or not publicly documented.