The Nigerian government is planning to outlaw gay marriage, with a five year imprisonment for anyone who violates the law.

The Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo, said the law was needed to stop the “gradual incursion of homosexualism and lesbianism and gay marriages” and asked for the bill to be immediately dispatched to the National Assembly for urgent action.

In a statement, Ojo explained that the government had taken the decision because Nigeria was a conservative country and that the Bible frowned upon gay men and women.

“In spite of civilization, Nigeria still remained a conservative society and that the Holy Bible and the Quran regarded homosexuality, lesbianism as unholy and therefore frowned at it,” Ojo said.

He went on to say that it was “un-African” for people of the same sex to contract any form of sexual relationship or marriage, hence the hurry by the government to create a legal framework to stop any incidents occurring in the country.

Ojo added that “things like rallies and relationships or amorous relationships being displayed in public had been banned and would be severely dealt with.”

Information Minister Frank Nweke told the BBC the government was taking the "pre-emptive step" because of developments elsewhere in the world.

"In most cultures in Nigeria, same-sex relationships, sodomy and the likes of that, is regarded as abominable."