The statements by the two countries have been considered by Nigerian government as ‘meddling' in Nigeria’s domestic affairs.

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku said to State House correspondents yesterday that it is the legitimate right of Nigeria as a sovereign nation to make laws governing its activities without foreign interference.

“Between Europe, America and Africa there is a huge culture gap, some of the things that are considered fundamental rights abroad, also can be very offensive to African culture, tradition and to the way we live our lives here," he said.

Last week, the Nigeria Senate President, David Mark, also called the bluff of Britain.

“Our values are our values… If there is any country that does not want to give us aid or assistance just because we want to hold on to our values, that country can keep her aid and assistance.”

The Senate president was reacting to the concern by observers that Nigeria may lose millions of dollars as aid from Western countries.

U.K. Prime Minister, David Cameron, recently threatened to cut aid to African countries who discriminate against gays and lesbians.

A report in the Associated Press says 95 percent of about 400,000 people on anti-retrovirals in Nigeria are paid for by foreign donors.

The same report put the annual figure of funding from the US and UK governments at USD308million and USD31million respectively.

Obama’s memo in fact has demanded American agencies involved with foreign aid, assistance abroad among others to prepare a report within 180 days of the date of the memorandum, and annually thereafter, on their progress toward advancing the right of LGBT persons.

It appears, however, that Nigeria is unimpressed by the possibility of aids withdrawal, as the House of Representatives yesterday, passed the bill through the first reading.

The views expressed by Nigerians may determine how the bill will fare in the nearest future.

A Nigerian lawyer and criminologist, Paul Chukwudi Obianaso in an interview with IQ4News said "It is outside the realm of International diplomacy for countries like UK and USA to threaten other countries with sanctions or withdrawal of rights or privileges because those other countries insist on upholding moral values which are vernacular to their peoples' socio-cultural language and heritage.

“That America and Britain would seek to export homosexuality and homosexual ''rights and privileges'' marks the zenith of human freedom that is encapsulated in a rhapsody of moral absurdities. Such tendencies would sooner or later attract violent visitation from heaven".

The Consitution of Nigeria requires the bill to be passed by the House of Representatives and signed by President Goodluck Jonathan before becoming law.

Gay rights groups have been putting pressure on the international community to restrain Nigeria from passing the bill into law, arguing that gay rights are human rights.

Though Nigeria voted against the UN Resolution Against Anti-Gay discrimination passed in July 2011, experts on international laws argue that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which Nigeria is a signatory, binds her to protect rights and freedoms espoused in the Declaration.

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) has called on Nigerian authorities to remember their commitments to global human rights standards. Amnesty International has also asked President Goodluck Jonathan to use his veto against the bill.

A panel of UN human rights experts have described provisions of the draft bill as “discriminating against a section of society…which contravenes Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights." 

If push comes to shove, homosexuals in Nigeria may be forced to seek asylum in Europe and America, a move the West wants to discourage by railing against the bill, says an observer.

It is also true that Nigeria will have to look elsewhere for funding assistance to combat HIV/AIDs in the country.

It is unlikely that regional organisations such as African Union and ECOWAS will reprimand Nigeria for its anti-gay law, since most African countries find homosexual practice offensive.

According to the BBC, South Africa was the first country in the world to legalize gay marriages and the only country in Africa.

Will Nigeria take up the challenge posed by the US and UK? The answer can only manifest in the days ahead. But it is a response for which the homosexuals in Nigeria wait with bated breath.