President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday signed a bill that criminalizes same-sex relationships, the Presidency said.
The Act, which contains penalties of up to 14 years in prison and bans gay marriage, same-sex “amorous relationships” and membership of gay rights groups, was passed by the National Assembly in May 2013.
Two similar bills have been proposed since 2006 but failed to make it through Parliament.
“Yes, Mr President had signed the bill into law, a statement will be issued on it within the week,” Presidency spokesman, Reuben Abati told Reuters.
Under existing Nigerian Federal Law, sodomy is punishable by jail, but this bill legislates for a much broader crackdown on homosexuals and lesbians, who already live a largely underground existence.
While European countries, most recently France have moved to offer same-sex couples the same legal rights enjoyed by heterosexuals, many African countries are seeking to tighten laws against homosexuality.
Britain and some other Western countries have threatened to cut aid, a threat that has helped hold back or scupper such legislation in aid-dependent nations like Uganda and Malawi.