Nigeria is Leading LGBT Rights in the Wrong Direction
Since former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan signed the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act into law in 2013, Nigeria's LGBT community has borne a wave of homophobic attacks, including murders. The most populous country in Africa with over 230 million people, split almost evenly between Islam and Christianity, Nigeria has deep-rooted cultural and religious beliefs that don't recognize or condone LGBT rights. Same-sex relations are outlawed and punishable by up to 14 years imprisonment, and states that practice Sharia law, particularly in the northern parts of Nigeria, impose even harsher penalties ranging from public flogging to death by stoning.
This has resulted, understandably, in many LGBT Nigerians remaining in the closet for fear of victimization. Those who come out, such as the young bisexual man known pseudonymously as Chukwuebuka, end up fleeing the country for their lives. Only those with considerable wealth and a strong legal team, such as the trans mega-influencer Idris Okuneye (known as Bobrisky) are able to resist the state (and Bobrisky still served a six-month prison term). As an African journalist covering LGBT issues, I’ve seen firsthand that for those without the means to shield themselves or emigrate, being found out as gay, bi, or trans could spell extreme violence or even death.
In November of 2024, four gay men were beaten and chased out of Benin city in the Nigerian state of Edo by an angry mob. In October, a gay couple from Port Harcourt in Rivers State was paraded and assaulted in public, surrounded by hostile bystanders, simply for being gay. In August, the popular trans influencer Area Mama was murdered in what’s believed to be a hate crime and found naked and disfigured along the Katampe-Mabushi Expressway in the capital, Abuja. Online, criminals engage in “kito”, posing as LGBT on dating apps and social networks to lure and entrap people who they then extort, kidnap, or beat. In Nigeria, people can be arrested for being in a same-sex relationship or even advocating for LGBT people. When a major Christian church decided to repeal its ban on LGBT congregants, a violent schism ensued leaving two children gunned down, 10 injured, and homes set ablaze.
According to the human rights NGO No Hate Network Nigeria, the ongoing pattern of tragic violence is an indictment not only of the social and cultural attitudes in the country, but of the selective nature of law enforcement officials when it comes to seeking justice for LGBT persons. As a representative of the group told me when I reached out for comment:
"It's a stark reminder of the rampant homophobia and intolerance in Nigeria. Such violence is often fueled by discriminatory laws, societal norms, and lack of education. These incidents highlight the urgent need for increased advocacy, education, and protection for LGBTQI+ individuals."
The Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act exacerbates these challenges, effectively criminalizing LGBT individuals. Many live in fear, hiding their sexual orientation or gender identity to avoid persecution. Although many local and international rights organizations have called on the Federal Government to repeal the Act or lessen its severity, the Federal Government remains unmoved. LGBT people in Nigeria face crushing stigma from being denied access to healthcare, education, and even fair trials, leaving them with little hope and second-class status. Organizations that represent or advocate for LGBT people have begun, out of necessity, operating under the radar, making it even more difficult for those in urgent need to access their resources.
Speaking to Nigerian advocacy group Women’s Equality Space, I was told that Nigeria's LGBT community will continue to face deadly violence unless the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act is repealed:
"Unfortunately, the LGBT community in Nigeria faces significant risks. Harassment, extortion, and violence are widespread, with little to no protection from law enforcement officials. In some cases, authorities are complicit in the abuse, leaving the community highly vulnerable.”
The rise in killings can be linked to the enforcement of the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, which has fueled discrimination and lended an air of state-sanctioned legitimacy to anti-LGBT sentiments. This law, combined with preexisting cultural and religious biases, has created an environment where violence is more frequent and often goes unpunished.
The way to address this unacceptable status quo is as clear as it is difficult. Nigeria must repeal its discriminatory laws, particularly the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, decriminalize same-sex behavior, conduct public awareness campaigns to challenge stereotypes and promote tolerance, train law enforcement to protect LGBT individuals and hold perpetrators accountable, and establish support systems for those at risk.
Some in the West may defend Nigeria’s discriminatory laws under the guise of cultural sensitivity, but that amounts to the soft bigotry of low expectations — the assumption that Nigerians are incapable of embracing universal values like equality and human rights. These values are not “Western”, but fundamental to human dignity, and Nigerians deserve no less. At the same time, other Westerners push narratives about a supposed epidemic of “grooming”, painting LGBT people as predatory as part of a call for a more “traditional” society. Take it from me: so-called “traditional” societies can victimize both LGBT people and children alike. Nigeria’s laws and customs are hostile to LGBT people, and at the same time, practices like child marriage are still common. LGBT rights and protecting children are not mutually exclusive.
According to Anietie Ewang, the Nigeria Researcher at the Africa division of Human Rights Watch, the federal government should adopt and act on recommendations made by member States at the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) earlier in January. The recommendations include but are not limited to the abolishment of the death penalty, addressing sexual and gender-based violence, the end of child marriages, and LGBT rights.
Of course, this is all easier said than done.
"The Nigerian government’s delegation at the review session, led by Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, expressed Nigeria’s commitment to human rights and to the UPR process”, said Ewang. “These initiatives, however, have led to little or no impact on serious issues, especially on accountability for rights violations. Also, Nigerian authorities, including Fagbemi, have continued to denounce LGBT rights.”
As terrible as the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act has been, equally disturbing is the climate it has fostered in which citizens are now in the habit of taking matters into their own hands by harassing, physically attacking, or discriminating against those they perceive to be LGBT. Surveys conducted across the country indicate that these incidents are not outliers: a clear (but shrinking) majority of Nigerians say they would not accept a family member who was LGBT.
Source: Pew Research.
Moreover, law enforcement officials often look the other way when they see LGBT people are assaulted, primarily due to their own biases. They also tend to circumvent the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, using other laws to more easily arrest and prosecute LGBT people, as happened to Bobrisky in April of 2024.
The trans celebrity was arrested and convicted under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the crime of… flaunting Naira notes (Nigeria’s currency) at a public event. She spent six months in prison. To make matters worse, flaunting money in public, while technically against the law, is a widely practiced cultural norm in Nigeria, particularly during auspicious events such as weddings, inaugurations, and graduations. To put this in a Western context, this isn’t far from jailing someone for jaywalking or violating a noise ordinance. The arrest of Bobrisky was broadly seen as a ploy based on her sexual orientation and/or gender identity, which she has never been shy about. Following her release in August, Bobrisky was nearly sent back to prison a month later for her company Bob Express's alleged involvement in “money laundering.” After the charges were dropped, Bobrisky fled the country rather than wait for the next trumped-up legal battle.
As grim as the situation is for LGBT people in Nigeria, the country is hardly alone. Among the 54 nations in Africa, only one — South Africa — allows same-sex marriage. More than 30 criminalize same-sex behavior, and a large majority lack basic rights and protections for LGBT people. But Nigeria, as Africa's most populous nation, and one with sizable Christian and Muslim communities, occupies a unique position of influence on the continent. Where Nigeria leads, other African countries are more likely to follow. Nigeria’s population and economic growth has them on pace to become one of the world’s political and economic superpowers by the end of the 21st century. Embracing human rights isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s in Nigeria’s best interest on the world stage, and it could very well set a trend for other African countries to emulate.
Published Jan 27, 2025
