ABUJA, July 9, 2024 – The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has moved to dispel misconceptions surrounding the recent Samoa agreement, emphasizing that the deal does not mandate Nigeria to recognize or endorse LGBTQ rights as a condition for a $150 billion loan.
In a statement signed by NBA President Yakubu Maikyau, the association explained that the agreement expressly respects the local laws and sovereignty of the contracting nations.
“The SAMOA agreement recognizes Nigeria’s existing legislation, such as the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act of 2023, and upholds the supremacy of the Nigerian Constitution,” Maikyau said.
The NBA president stressed that if the agreement had required Nigeria to accept LGBTQ rights, the association would have advised the federal government against entering the partnership, as it could undermine national sovereignty.
Maikyau noted that prior to the signing of the SAMOA agreement, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning sought the NBA’s input as a key stakeholder. The association then convened a committee chaired by former Ekiti State Attorney General Olawale Fapohunda to review and advise on the agreement.
The SAMOA agreement, named after Samoa where it was signed, serves as a broad legal framework between the European Union and over half of the 79 members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS). It covers areas such as democracy, human rights, sustainable development, climate change, and security.
The NBA president called on the government to continue public enlightenment efforts and urged other stakeholders to join in countering the negative perception being promoted about the agreement.
