The Young Humanistas Network in Nigeria has described the remarks of Ojo Madueke, Nigeria’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, denying the existence of a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community in the country as being criminal and that the minister’s statements show that he is “economical with the truth”.
Addressing the United Nations Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights in Geneva early February, Mr. Madueke said: “We have no record of any group of Nigerians who have come together under the umbrella of lesbian, gay and transgender group, let alone to start talking of their rights.
However a statement issued by the Young Humanistas Network said that they were “particularly miffed” by the remarks made during the Minister’s UNUPR address on February 9.
“Ojo Madueke is economical with the truth in his attempts to cover the track of gross human rights violations being perpetrated by the government of Nigeria as he seems to have forgotten that the National Assembly backed by some of the executive council members are currently preparing to enact a law criminalizing homosexual activities,” the statement said.
And the group questioned: “Why enact a law that has no subject?