Tinubu bans homose£uality, cross-dressing, tattooing, and more in Nigerian military

The Nigerian Armed Forces have introduced stringent regulations prohibiting certain behaviors deemed inconsistent with the ethical standards of military service.

The announcement comes amidst President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s push to reinforce discipline and integrity within the armed forces.

The new rules, which extend to activities both on and off duty, explicitly ban homose£uality, lesbi£nism, transgender identity, bestiality, cross-dressing, body piercing, tattooing, drunkenness, and disorderly conduct.

These directives, outlined in the military’s updated code of conduct, aim to preserve the moral and professional standards of Nigeria’s armed forces.

The regulations also prohibit membership in secret societies or political parties, emphasizing that officers must remain neutral and focused on their duties.

The move shows the administration’s efforts to align the military with what it considers acceptable cultural and professional norms.

The statement reads:

“An officer shall not hold membership of any secret society or political party. He shall not participate, in any way, in activities concerned with such societies or parties even in observatory capacities.”

It further clarifies that traditional religious or cultural societies, which are openly conducted and transparent in their membership, are not considered secret societies and therefore do not fall under the ban.

While the updated regulations have been praised in some quarters for reinforcing discipline, they have also sparked debate about personal freedoms and human rights within the military.

Critics argue that the ban on homose£uality, cross-dressing, and tattooing raises questions about discrimination and the balance between personal liberty and professional expectations.

Others, however, believe the rules are necessary to maintain the armed forces’ image and ensure unity within its ranks.