The Federal Government has refuted a newspaper report alleging that the Samoa partnership agreement signed on June 28 endorses the rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) individuals in Nigeria.
The government also denied claims that Nigeria would receive $150 billion for entering into the deal.
At a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, the Minister of Budget and Planning, Atiku Bagudu, alongside the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, addressed the report published by Daily Trust Newspapers.
According to the report, the Federal Government signed an agreement that included clauses requiring Nigeria to endorse LGBTQI rights, and that the country would receive $150 billion for doing so.
This report has caused significant social, religious, and cultural tension, becoming a central topic in sermons at mosques and churches.
Minister Bagudu clarified that the agreement, known as the Samoa agreement, was signed at the Organisation of Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium, on June 28.
The Samoa agreement represents a partnership between the European Union (EU) and its member states, and members of OACPS.
Negotiations for this agreement began in 2018, and it was signed on November 15, 2018, by all 27 EU member states and 47 of the 79 OACPS states.
The African Regional Protocol of the agreement includes two main parts: a framework for cooperation and areas of cooperation covering sustainable economic growth, environmental protection, and human rights.
In response to the Daily Trust report, Bagudu stated that there is no truth to the claims. He emphasized that the agreement does not mention $150 billion, nor does it reference LGBTQ rights or the rights of individuals involved in such activities.
Bagudu asserted that President Bola Tinubu is a proud Nigerian who would never sign any document that could harm the country’s laws and constitution.
He explained that the agreement aims to foster cooperation between the EU’s 27 member states and the 79 OACPS nations, focusing on trade agreements, human rights, and environmental promotion.
Nigeria signed the agreement after extensive reviews and consultations by an interministerial committee involving the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Justice.
The government made it clear that any provision inconsistent with Nigerian laws would be null and void. The minister emphasized that Nigeria has had a law against same-sex marriage since 2014.
Bagudu reassured Nigerians that the Tinubu administration, being rule-based, would not enter into any international agreement detrimental to the country’s interests.
He pointed out that Nigeria has signed many other agreements that have benefited the country in areas such as water, sanitation, education, and agriculture.
The Samoa agreement, he noted, focuses on economic development, security, environment, migration, mobility, climate change, investment opportunities, sustainable development, and mutually beneficial cooperation.
He reiterated that no part of the agreement supports LGBTQ rights, and everything signed aligns with Nigerian laws.
Bagudu emphasized President Tinubu’s respect for Nigeria’s diverse cultures and religions, assuring that the president did not authorize any agreement undermining the constitution or laws of Nigeria.
The minister urged the media to report truthfully and patriotically to protect national interests, noting that development partners are sensitive to media reports.
He cautioned against ridiculing the country and scaring away international investors.
Bagudu called on the media to allow Nigerians to know the truth and support the nation’s efforts to secure foreign investments, support, and cooperation, highlighting the contributions of hardworking Nigerians in these areas.
