On July 4, 2024, the Nigerian government clarified that despite ratifying the Samoa agreement under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, the laws of the country regarding Same-Sex Marriage remain superior to the agreement at the international level. The country’s minister of information, Mohammed Idris Malagi, communicated this in an official press release. Before signing the treaty, the minister emphasized that the government’s decisions are based on the moral compass and fundamental beliefs of its citizens.
It was reported that the global agreement includes certain requirements that oblige less developed and developing countries to show their support for the advocacy efforts of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community in order to receive financial and other assistance from more advanced nations. Samoa Pacific Island nation recently passed the law that is slowly making its mark, despite facing resistance from several countries that uphold strong Islamic and Christian values, as well as concerns about cultural sensitivity.
Nigeria formally entered into the Samoa Agreement on June 28, 2024.
Tinubu’s administration sparked debate by accepting the agreement that had been rejected by the previous government of Goodluck Jonathan, leading to criticism from Human Rights advocates and religious groups. Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information, addressed the concerns by stating that Nigeria formally entered into the Samoa Agreement at the headquarters of the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) in Brussels, Belgium on June 28, 2024. This agreement establishes a partnership between the EU and its Member States with the OACPS member countries.
Discussions for the agreement commenced during the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in 2018 and concluded with the signing ceremony in Apia, Samoa on November 15, 2018. All 27 EU Member states and 47 out of the 79 OACPS Member states were signatories to the agreement. The contract includes a total of 103 sections that make up a fundamental agreement as well as three separate protocols specific to different regions: African-EU, Caribbean-EU, and Pacific-EU. Each regional protocol focuses on addressing the unique challenges and needs within their respective regions.
All 103 Articles and Provisions of the Agreement were carefully reviewed.
The division of the African Regional Protocol is twofold. The first part focuses on establishing a common cooperation framework, while the second part addresses various areas of collaboration, including promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, enhancing human and social development, managing environment and natural resources, addressing climate change, ensuring Peace and security, upholding human rights, promoting democracy and good governance, and facilitating migration and mobility. On June 28, 2024, Nigeria officially approved the Agreement following thorough assessments and discussions conducted by the Interministerial Committee.
This committee was established by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning (FMBEP) in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Federal Ministry of Justice (FMOJ). All 103 Articles and Provisions of the Agreement were carefully reviewed to ensure compliance with the 1999 Constitution as amended, as well as the laws of Nigeria and other existing regulations. Furthermore, Nigeria has officially supported the Agreement with a Declaration Statement on June 26, 2024, emphasizing that any parts of the Agreement conflicting with Nigerian laws will be deemed void.
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Additionally, it is important to mention that Nigeria implemented a law in 2014 that prohibits same-sex relationships. Nigerians can rest assured that under President Bola Tinubu’s rule-based government, no international agreements will harm the country or its citizens. Our officials adhered closely to the mandates set out by the EU and the OACPS in 2018 while negotiating the agreement. The Samoa Agreement serves as a crucial legal foundation for collaboration between the European Union and the OACPS. Its main objectives are to advance sustainable development, combat the impacts of climate change, create Investment prospects, and encourage unity among OACPS Member States on a global platform.