The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), stated on Tuesday that the SAMOA Agreement does not require Nigeria to recognize or accept LGBTQ rights.
Maikyau explained that the misleading information about the agreement is either due to ignorance or a deliberate attempt to deceive the public, “neither of which is good.”
In a statement signed by NBA National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Habeeb Lawal, Maikyau encouraged the public to question news reports and social media posts.
He stressed that the NBA is committed to ensuring government actions benefit the people and will continue to advise the government to advance the nation’s interests.
“My attention was drawn to publications in newspapers and social media platforms, to reactions by some Nigerians, to the signing of the SAMOA agreement by the federal government.
“Contrary to the narrative being propagated either due to ignorance of the content of the agreement or a deliberate intention to mislead the public, I wish to state:
“That there is no provision in the SAMOA agreement which requires Nigeria to accept or in any way recognise LGBTQ or gay rights, either as a precondition for a loan of $150 billion or at all.
“Instead, the agreement was expressly made subject to the local laws, and the sovereignty of the contracting nations.
“That is to say, the SAMOA recognises for instance, Nigeria’s Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2023, and of course, the supremacy of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“If this were not the case, the NBA would have since advised the Federal Government not to enter or engage in any form of partnership or agreement that has the ability to undermine the sovereignty of our nation in any way.
“For avoidance of any doubts, the SAMOA agreement does not in any way, seek to compromise our existing legislations, nor undermine the sovereignty of Nigeria.
“The negative narratives on this agreement are being pushed and propagated along very sensitive lines of our faith, culture and morality, thus, the need for caution and proper education,” he said.
Maikyau urged the government to continue educating the public about the agreement and called on other stakeholders to help counter the negative perceptions being spread.
According to NAN, the SAMOA Agreement is a partnership for cooperation between the EU and its member states, and the members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS).
The agreement, informally known as the ‘Samoa Agreement,’ was signed on the Island of Samoa in Oceania during the 46th session of the ACP-EU Council of Ministers.
The agreement, signed by Nigeria and other OACPS members, outlines six key priorities to address the main challenges in member countries over the next two decades.
The Nigerian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the European Union, Obinna Onowu, signed the agreement on behalf of Nigeria at the OACPS Secretariat in Brussels on June 28, 2024. (NAN)