How Does Ban On Homosexuality Benefit Nigeria?, by Leo Igwe

President Tinubu has barred military officers from engaging in homosexuality, and some segments of Nigerian society are jubilant and triumphant. Why? How does a ban on gay sex benefit Nigeria and its military? The ban, contained in Section 26 of the revised Harmonised Armed Forces Terms and Conditions of Service, which the president signed on December 16, 2024, prohibited officers from cross-dressing and other acts against the ‘ethics’ of the armed forces. Incidentally, many people have, out of irrational hate for homosexuals, not considered the real import of this prohibition. They have not paid close attention to how unnecessary, distracting, and counterproductive this ban is. President Tinubu issued this ban to appease the anti-gay public and power base. He did this to reassure anti-LGBT Nigerians that his government would not cave in to pressure from the West to recognize homosexuality, as once rumored. Otherwise, what is the political value of this ban? Of what significance is it? Is this ban not another case of Nigeria fiddling while Rome burns? I mean, with the terrible economic situation, hardship, and misery in the country, why should Tinubu be concerned about what is going on in the bedroom of military officers? How is homosexuality or lesbianism a priority for millions of Nigerians dying of hunger at this point?

Look, the Nigerian law already prohibits homosexuality and, in 2015, same-sex marriage. So, this ban is unnecessary. What legislative value is it adding? What is the essence of another mechanism barring the military from homosexual and lesbian acts? Are military officers, not Nigerians? Are military officers not bound by the Nigerian law? For those jubilating over this tactless initiative or those thinking that Tinubu has given them a license to hate and tackle any real or imagined homosexuals, listen. This provision bans homosexual acts, not homosexuals. This distinction is crucial because there is a lot of ignorance, and prejudice playing out among Nigerians. There is so much misunderstanding and misinformation. Unfortunately, this prohibition, like the passing into law of same-sex marriage, has been misinterpreted as an endorsement of hatred, attack, and murder of any assumed homosexuals. Prohibition of homosexuality has been misconstrued and used as a pretext or justification for abuse of LGBT persons or violation of upholders and defenders of human rights. For instance, last year, the bruised body of a transgender woman, popularly known as Abuja Area Mama, was found along a highway in Abuja. Some homophobic Nigerians committed this terrible crime; they conspired, abducted, and murdered her.

The police claimed that they were investigating the death of the woman, but we know that was only a public relations gimmick. That there was no substantive investigation going on. Nothing has been heard about the incident since it happened. There has not been any release by the major religious organizations condemning this horrific murder. The matter is slowly fizzling out. When I shared the news of the murder on a WhatsApp platform, a prominent Muslim leader from northern Nigeria commented: “Our law is clear on this”. Really? He confidently made this remark as if the murder of this woman was justified by the law. It was not. Anti-gay sentiments have caused a deficit in humanity and compassion of Nigerians. Nigerians denounce attacks and killings based on ‘sex’, religion, or ethnicity. They condemn racial and xenophobic attacks. But many turn a blind eye or tacitly endorse attacks and killings based on sexual orientation. That is shameful. The murder of Abuja Area Mama was a case of jungle justice and people taking laws into their own hands. Perpetrators should answer for their crimes. People suspected of committing any crime should be charged in court and prosecuted as required by law.

In addition, this prohibition lurks with hypocrisy and contradictions; it puts the Nigerian military in a difficult position, out of step with its counterparts in other parts of the world. The Nigerian army cooperates with militaries in Europe, America, and other parts of the world where homosexuality is not a crime, and people treat gay officers with dignity and respect. Now, think about this. Nigeria has barred its officers from engaging in homosexual acts, right? It prohibits its officers from belonging to LGBTQI groups, right? But it sends officers to train in countries where homosexuality and gay marriage are allowed. It sends officers to countries where officers join gay clubs. Nigeria conducts joint training and exercises with officers from countries where people can openly and publicly be gay. Nigeria has not cut military, political, and economic ties with these countries. We accept military aid from them.

Look, the economic situation in Nigeria is so bad that Nigerians are emigrating in droves. Millions are leaving a country that bans homosexuals for countries that welcome and respect gays. Millions of Nigerians will relocate to live or study in these countries if given the opportunity. Many Nigerian politicians and military officers are citizens or permanent residents of these countries. Their children and other relatives live or study in Western nations. So, in all these brouhaha over homosexuality and lesbianism, who is deceiving who? What does Nigeria stand to gain from this? Beyond the hate and violence that this ban fuels and inflames, apart from endangering the lives and rights of homosexuals and their allies, how does this ban on homosexuality benefit Nigeria?

Leo Igwe is a humanist and board member of Humanists International.