Rapid Scoping Review 2025: Nigeria

Nigeria’s socio-political and economic environment presents significant challenges for women’s rights and for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and more (LGBTQI+) rights. Women also face discriminatory practices, such as in the northern Kano state, where civil service rules penalise women for pregnancy-related training interruptions. In March 2022, the National Assembly rejected five gender bills that sought to enhance women’s representation in politics by creating reserved seats and mandating significant female representation in political appointments. This setback reflects ongoing challenges in achieving gender equality in Nigeria. Expressions of homosexuality/same-sex sexual activity are criminalised in Nigeria. For this brief, a total of 16 organisations, individuals, and smaller groups were analysed, providing a comprehensive perspective on efforts to counter rollback. It explores the context of rollback, the landscape of anti-rollback actors, counter-rollback strategies, and gaps and areas for future research and work.