The president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has in a directives barred military personnel from acts that contradict the ethics of the armed forces.
This is coming after the President signed a revised Harmonized Armed Forces Terms and Conditions of services in December 2024.
The Section 26 of the Directives states that: “An officer must not engage in homosexuality, lesbianism, and bestiality.”
Nigeria’s military personnel are now expressly prohibited from engaging in derogatory acts including body piercing, tattooing, disorderly behavior, and drunkenness on or off duty.
Part of the Terms and Conditions signed by Tinubu read: “He/she is not to belong to, or engage in activities of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Trans, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual or Agender, Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2S+) group and cross-dressing, amongst others.
“An officer must not engage in body piercing and tattooing of any part of his body. An officer shall not engage in any form of disorderly behavior, brawl, or any action of public disgrace. An officer must not at any time be drunk whether on or off duty.”
The condition of service also warned against the involvement of officers in relationships with subordinates.
“An officer shall not engage in any amorous relationship with any soldier/rating/airman/airwoman, fellow officer’s or soldier’s/rating’s/airmen’s/air women’s spouse.” it added.