Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, has told the United Nations that Nigeria will not reverse the law banning homosexuality.
He urged the United Nations High Commissioner for Human rights, Ms. Navi Pillay, who paid him a courtesy visit on Thursday in Abuja to accept the reality with Nigeria.
According to him, same-sex marriage is against the way of life of the people who have expressed support to the government on the anti-gay law.
The minister told the UN chief that Nigeria had demonstrated its respect for human rights with the way it had been prosecuting captured members of the Boko Haram in accordance with the law which presumed them innocent.
Pillay had said, “The anti-gay law is in violation of the human rights enshrined in the international covenant of civil and political rights. It contravenes Africa’s charter and the Nigerian constitution itself.”
She added that the UN was concerned about the negative consequences stressing that it might deter the affected persons from taking up HIV education, treatment and care facilities and also hinder the ability of government and civil society.
“I am seeking your good office to see some kind of moratorium on prosecution at this moment. We can do much more work, to have all Nigerians respect the human rights of all people, to respect diversity, to promote values of tolerance, acceptance with targeted training for law enforcement and other things,” Pillay said.
Pillay, who noted that Nigeria had improved on human rights protection, pointed out that the country was still lagging behind in some of the human rights reports.
“Nigeria is behind in many of its reports and I am here to see how best we can to support you in catching up with those reports,” she said.
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