Nigeria came closer to adopting a harsh anti-gay bill when Senate passed it on 29 November 2011, to the dismay of civil rights advocates.
If the bill is ratified by the House of Representatives and signed off by the President, it will become law.
The Same Gender Marriage (Prohibition) Bill 2011 aims to make life even more unpleasant for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people, who already face tough legal penalties, for their friends and for supporters of universal human rights.
Couples who celebrate their partnership could each face up to 14 years in prison, while witnesses could be jailed for 10 years.
The “public show of same-sex amorous relationships directly or indirectly” would also carry a 10-year penalty.
Human rights campaigners have vowed to continue to struggle against the bill, both domestically and internationally.