Bashir Ahmad, a former aide to immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari, has clarified that the $150bn Samoa deal signed by the Bola Tinubu government does not mean Nigeria will allow same-sex marriage or relationships....CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>

The former presidential aide maintained that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) remained illegal in Nigeria. He stressed that Nigeria has not legalised LGBTQ rights, adding that the country has laws that criminalise same-sex relationships.

Ahmad recalled that in January 2014, former President Goodluck Jonathan signed a bill into law that makes same-sex relationships illegal.

According to him, the law imposes harsh penalties, including up to 14 years in prison, for those found guilty of engaging in same-sex relationships or activities.

He said that the law also bans gay marriage, same-sex “amorous relationships”, and membership in gay rights groups.

The former presidential aide noted that Western countries, including the United States, widely criticised the passage of this law, which had urged Nigeria to respect gay rights. Despite this pressure, Nigeria went ahead with the law, which remains in effect.

His tweet reads:

“The LGBTQ is not legalized in Nigeria. In January 2014, former President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law a bill that criminalizes same-sex relationships, defying Western pressure over gay rights and provoking criticism from the United States.

“The law imposes penalties of up to 14 years in prison and bans gay marriage, same-sex ‘amorous relationships,’ and membership in gay rights groups.”
In another tweet, the former presidential aide maintained that the deal did not mean that Nigeria is now an advocate of the LGBT. ...CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>