Gay Rights Policy and the United States-Nigeria Diplomatic Relations

The study assessed the nexus between gay rights policy and the United States-Nigeria diplomatic relations, 2006-2015. Relations between both countries have been cordial except during military rule in Nigeria. The low moments of their diplomatic relations since democratic rule in 1999 was evident during 2013-2015 and it was centered on the controversy generated especially, by the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, 2013 and failed leadership. Hence, the study specifically, is to (i) ascertain whether the criminalisation of gay rights in Nigeria undermined the existing diplomatic relations between the United States and Nigeria, and, to (ii) determine whether leadership role in Nigeria accounted for the pressure by the United States for the decriminalisation of gay rights in Nigeria. The theoretical perspective of this study is rooted in the ‘centre-periphery’ theory of structural imperialism by Johan Galtung and adopted the documentary methods of data collection and content analysis as its methods of data analysis. This study found out that, the gay rights policy undermined diplomatic relations between both countries and that, the leadership role in Nigeria accounted for the pressure by the United States for the decriminalisation of gay rights in Nigeria. The study recommends among others that, the Nigerian government should formulate citizen-centric policies instead of policies that have no direct benefits to the generality of Nigerians such as the anti-gay laws. Also, over dependence on foreign aid from countries seeking to influence Nigeria’s domestic politics should be discouraged.