Laws in Nigeria
How Nigeria is classified on 33 of the 48 laws this site maps, grouped by subject. Each links to the full answer and its source.
Body & Life
- Abortion
- Illegal (with exceptions) Abortion is prohibited except to save the pregnant person's life.
- Suicide Laws
- Criminal offense
- FGM Laws
- Varies by region FGM is criminally banned federally but the law does not apply in all states.
- Surrogacy
- Unregulated Surrogacy is unregulated in Nigeria, though contracts may be enforceable and a regulation is being considered.
Money & Games
- Gambling Age
- 18 Minimum age to gamble: 18.
- Cryptocurrency
- Banking ban / restricted Cryptocurrency is legal to hold but banks are barred from handling it.
Daily Life
- Public Smoking Bans
- Varies by region Smoking bans are only explicitly detailed for Lagos, implying regional variation across the country.
- Driving Age
- 18+ Minimum age to drive a car: 18.
Animals & Environment
- Fur Farming
- Legal No ban on fur farming.
- Cosmetic Animal Testing
- No ban No ban on testing cosmetics on animals.
- Plastic Bag Bans
- Banned Lightweight plastic bags are banned nationwide.
Civic & Family
- Voting Age
- 18 The voting age is 18.
- Compulsory Voting
- Voluntary Voting is voluntary.
- Minimum Working Age
- Under 14 Minimum working age: 12.
Relationships & Sexuality
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Not recognized Same-sex unions have no legal recognition, and marriage is constitutionally or statutorily barred.
- Same-Sex Activity
- Death penalty possible Same-sex sexual activity is a criminal offence that can carry the death penalty.
- Age of Consent
- 18+ The age of consent is 18.
- Sex Work
- Varies by region The legal status varies by region, with specific penalties in the South and Islamic law in the North.
- Divorce
- Heavily restricted Divorce is legal but requires a long period of separation.
- Incest Laws
- Criminal offense
- Marriage Age
- 18+ Minimum marriage age: 18.
Speech & Belief
- Blasphemy Laws
- Criminal offense Blasphemy is a criminal offense under the Criminal Code and Sharia law in some states.
- Apostasy Laws
- Criminal offense Apostasy is a crime in 12 northern Nigerian states under Sharia law, though not federally.
- Holocaust Denial
- No specific law No specific law against Holocaust denial.
- Flag Desecration
- Criminal offense Flying or exhibiting the national flag in a defaced condition is a criminal offense.
- Conversion Therapy
- No ban No legal ban on conversion therapy.
Justice & Weapons
- Death Penalty
- Retained / in use Retained in law and used.
- Gun Laws
- Highly restrictive / banned Civilians cannot obtain handguns.
- Military Conscription
- No conscription
Substances
- Cannabis
- Illegal Cannabis is illegal for all purposes.
- Drinking Age
- 18–20 Minimum age to buy alcohol: 18.
- Smoking Age
- 18 Minimum age to buy tobacco: 18.
- E-Cigarettes
- Legal / lightly regulated E-cigarettes are legal, subject to an age limit.
Nearby countries
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.