Amid fears that the number of Nigerians seeking asylum in
gay-friendly countries would rise, the Royal Embassy of the Netherlands
in Nigeria has confirmed that it has received some applications for
asylum by some Nigerians who fear persecution and a backlash following
the signing into law the anti-gay bill by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The embassy in an email to THISDAY, however, said it was neither
involved in processing any application for asylum seekers nor does it
have the power to grant asylum to applicants.
Since late last year when Jonathan assented to the Same-sex bill,
Nigeria has come under criticisms from the United States and some
European countries for criminalising same-sex unions.
Responding to concerns of a possible upsurge in the number of
applicants seeking to flee Nigeria in the wake of the anti-gay
clampdown, Netherlands said it could not predict whether there would be a
rise in the number of those who want to flee Nigeria because of the new
dispensation, adding that doing so would be mere speculation.
It however noted that even if there was an increase, it was expected to
decrease as applicants become more aware about the modalities for
asylum seekers in the Netherlands.
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