British Prime Minister Theresa May has called for same-sex marriage in Nigeria and all other countries within the Commonwealth.

Speaking at the first joint forum of Commonwealth Head of Government Meetings in Westminster on Tuesday, the prime minister said there should be no laws criminalising same-sex relationships across the Commonwealth.

May said: “Across the world, discriminatory laws made many years ago, continue to affect the lives of many people tens of millions of young people. Criminalising same-sex relations and failing to protect women and girls.”

“I am all too aware that these laws were put in place by my own country; they were wrong then and they are wrong now.

“As the UK’s prime minister, I deeply regret that those laws were introduce…as a family, we must respect one another’s cultures and traditions, but we must do so in a manner consistent with equality, as it is clearly stated in the Commonwealth charter.

“Nobody should face discrimination or persecution because of who they are or who they love and the UK stands ready to help any Commonwealth member wanting to reform outdated legislation that makes such discrimination possible.”