Lawyer Calls on National Assembly for Special Cell, Restroom Provisions for Trans People

Attorney Petitions National Assembly to Legislate Separate Cells and Lavatories for Transgender Community

Activist lawyer, Maduabuchi Idam, has called on the National Assembly to pass legislation for the establishment of separate cell rooms in all detention facilities in Nigeria for transgender individuals.

Idam also urged the National Assembly to introduce legislation to establish conveniences in public places for transgender individuals in Nigeria.

This appeal was outlined in an open letter addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass, dated April 6, 2024.

The Abuja-based constitutional lawyer further advocated for the criminalisation of gender transition.

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The letter, titled “Demand to either criminalise gender transition or pass legislation for the establishment of separate cell rooms in all detention facilities and conveniences in public places, for transgender individuals in Nigeria,” states:

“Following the growing cases of gender transition in Nigeria, I, Maduabuchi O. Idam, Esq., am writing as a human rights and public interest activist to demand that the National Assembly immediately pass legislation to either discourage gender transition in Nigeria or, alternatively, ensure that the rights of both trans people and cisgenders are adequately protected.

This is to prevent one group from violating the rights of the other by introducing separate cells and conveniences such as toilets, bathrooms, or washrooms in public places, specifically for individuals with a transgender identity.

Although I consider gender transition to be unethical, I respect the opinions of those who believe otherwise. Nonetheless, I insist that if transgenderism cannot be discouraged, the National Assembly must ensure that the rights of cisgenders are not compromised in the process of respecting the rights of transgender individuals.

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It is noted, therefore, that cisgenders may not be comfortable sharing cell rooms and conveniences with transgender individuals.

Meanwhile, it is my view that allowing transgender people access to spaces exclusively designated for cisgenders (and vice versa) could violate cisgenders’ rights to privacy and the dignity of the human person. Hence, the urgent need to consider this demand with a view to legislating on the matter.”

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