President Yakubu Maikyau SAN (NBA) clarified that the SAMOA Agreement does not include LGBTQ rights as a requirement for a $150 billion loan facility.
In a statement released on Monday, Maikyau clarified that the agreement does not mandate Nigeria to accept or acknowledge LGBTQ rights. Instead, it respects the country’s local laws and the sovereignty of participating nations.
Additionally, Maikyau emphasized that the agreement acknowledges Nigeria’s Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act of 2023 and respects the authority of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
He stated, “Contrary to the narrative being propagated either due to ignorance of the content of the agreement or, a deliberate intention to mislead the public (neither of which is good), I wish to state that there is no provision in the SAMOA agreement which requires Nigeria to accept or in anyway recognise LGBTQ or gay rights, either as a pre-condition for a loan of $150 Billion USD of 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 agreement recognises, for instance, Nigeria’s Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, 2023 and of course, the Supremacy of the Consutution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
“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 anyway.
“For avoidance of any doubt, the SAMOA agreement does not, in any way, seek to compromise our existing legislations nor undermine the sovereignty of Nigeria.”
Maikyau urged stakeholders to educate the public about the actual content of the agreement and cautioned against spreading negative narratives related to faith, culture, and morality.
He disclosed that the NBA was consulted on the agreement prior to its signing and had established a committee to review and provide advice on it.
The SAMOA Agreement is a comprehensive legal framework between the European Union and over half of the 79 members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS).
It addresses six key areas; democracy and human rights, economic growth, climate change, social development, peace and security, and migration.
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