The U.S. Mission Nigeria on Tuesday announced a 4-day train-the-trainers awareness workshop for Nigerian law enforcement officers and other relevant agencies on how to respect and protect the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons.

The 4-day training which is been funded by the U.S Mission in Nigeria, commenced today in Abuja.

US Embassy Abuja organizes awareness workshop for Security Agencies on how to respect/protect LGBTQI Rights

The training, aimed at teaching Nigerian Security Agencies on how to respect the human rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex – has raised questions on Nigerian law against same-sex marriage and LGBTQI.

Question like, When did FG/NASS approved LGBTQI in Nigeria that US Embassy Abuja now funded a 4-day awareness workshop for Nigerian Security Agencies on how to respect/protect the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons?

LGBTQI simply means; (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex)

It should be recalled that LGBTQI was outlawed in Nigeria 2014. The Nigerian anti-gay law became effective on Jan 13, 2014, contain penalties of up to 14 years in prison and bans gay marriage, same-sex “amorous relationships” & membership of gay rights groups, was ratified by NASS in May 2013.

Also in 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari while on a 4-day official visit to the USA categorically ruled out any chance of Nigerian being pressured by the America into legalizing LGBTQI in Nigeria.

So why is US Embassy Abuja organizing awareness workshop for security agencies on LGBTQI rights?

Below is from the official Twitter page of US Mission in Nigeria.

The U.S. Mission Nigeria funded a 4-day train-the-trainers awareness workshop for Nigerian law enforcement officers and other relevant agencies on how to respect and protect the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons. pic.twitter.com/4Q6vacTcsF

— U.S. Mission Nigeria (@USinNigeria) January 24, 2023