75% of Queer Nigerians Live in Constant Fear of Being Outed

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We surveyed queer Nigerians on their experiences and found that three out of four live in constant fear of being outed. Every respondent stays open only with close friends, carefully managing who to trust and what to say. Nigeria’s Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act criminalises LGBTQI+ organising and public displays of affection with prison terms and harsher penalties under Sharia. Although convictions under the law are rare, it creates a climate of fear. Online traps like “kito” entrapment amplify risks by preying on social stigma. Across Africa, legal approaches diverge. South Africa, Botswana and Mauritius have decriminalised same-sex relations and, in some cases, legalised marriage. At the same time, countries like Uganda and Ghana have tightened penalties. For queer Nigerians, the priority remains basic safety and the right to exist without fear.

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