Agency Report
Abuja — The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, announced on Saturday that the Nigerian government would make the Samoa Agreement public. This move aims to address concerns about alleged Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) clauses within the agreement.
Bagudu clarified that none of the articles explicitly recognized LGBT rights in the agreement between Nigeria and the European Union (EU).
The Samoa Agreement, signed by the Federal Government, has sparked controversy due to misconceptions about its content. Critics believed it endorsed LGBT rights, which contradicts Nigeria’s anti-same-sex marriage and gay relationships law enacted in 2014.
Bagudu emphasized that Nigeria would not enter into any agreement conflicting with the constitution, religious beliefs, or cultural sensibilities of its diverse population. The agreement covers approximately 200 areas of cooperation, including education, food security, water and sanitation, decent work, demography, youth development, culture, sustainable development, and more.
Contrary to previous reports, Bagudu said that the agreement’s value is not $150 billion. Instead, it serves as a comprehensive framework for cooperation across various domains. An implementation agreement will be signed for each area of cooperation, and Nigeria will issue a declaration clarifying the basis of its signing. This declaration, a public document, will address concerns related to LGBT rights.
He stated, “There was nowhere in the body of the document where you will see $150bn but these are agreements which I believe, like with other countries, define what we want to relate with those countries in, and how to about it.”
The Samoa Agreement, signed in November 2023, replaces the Cotonou Agreement. It involves the European Union, its 27 member states, and 79 member states of the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS). The agreement equips parties to address global challenges, including climate change, ocean governance, migration, health, and peace and security.
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