Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry is claiming that Foreign Affairs Minister Olugbenga Ashiru never said the country would tolerate other nations sending diplomats in same-sex marriages to the West African Nation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported last week that Ashiru had told it that diplomats with same sex spouses would be allowed to do their jobs despite the country criminalizing same-sex marriage.

‘Nigeria is not against any country for legalizing gay marriage but in our country, given our customs and traditions, as well as religious beliefs, marriage as ordained by God is between a man and a woman,’ NAN reported Ashiru as saying in an interview during a trip to London.

‘But if we have diplomats with same sex spouses posted to Nigeria, we have no choice but to accredit them accordingly because they come from countries where such law is in place.’

However following a backlash from the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Foreign Ministry is now claiming Ashiru was misquoted.

‘At his meeting, the Foreign Minister in his statement read to the meeting where journalists and media executives were present said foreign countries should not impose their values on Nigeria,’ a ministerial spokesman told The Guardian Nigeria.

‘While Nigeria is not against any country legalizing gay marriages, no country should force that on Nigeria.

‘Nigeria and majority of Nigerians are against gay rights and marriages as it is not part of our customs, religion or law.’

The Nigerian National Assembly has passed a bill making same-sex marriage a crime with a penalty of between 10 and 14 years in prison for anyone who enters into or participates in a same-sex wedding – including wedding guests.

Despite that, Nigerian lawmakers are currently considering legalizing child marriage.