The federal government has confirmed that the Samoa agreement was signed in the nation’s best interest and adheres to existing laws.
On Thursday, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, announced that the agreement was finalized on June 28 after extensive reviews and consultations.
Minister Idris explained that an inter-ministerial committee, led by the Ministry of Budget with collaboration from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice, conducted a thorough review of the agreement. The European Council states that the Samoa agreement provides a new legal framework for the European Union’s (EU) relations with 79 African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries, replacing the Cotonou agreement signed in 2000.
The agreement addresses six priority areas: democracy and human rights; sustainable economic growth and development; climate change; human and social development; peace and security; and migration and mobility. It was officially signed on November 15, 2023, by the EU, its member states, and the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) in Samoa.
Initially, Nigeria withheld signing the agreement to study its provisions. On Thursday, reports surfaced alleging that some clauses might pressure underdeveloped and developing nations to support LGBT rights, sparking mixed reactions among Nigerians.
Minister Idris reassured the public that the agreement does not violate the 1999 Constitution or any existing laws, highlighting Nigeria’s law criminalizing same-sex relationships. “Nigeria signed the agreement on Friday, June 28, 2024,” he stated. “None of the 103 articles and provisions of the agreement contravenes the 1999 Constitution as amended, the laws of Nigeria, or other extant laws.”
Furthermore, Nigeria’s endorsement included a declaration dated June 26, 2024, clarifying that any provision inconsistent with Nigerian laws shall be invalid.
Minister Idris emphasized, “It is necessary to assure Nigerians that the President Bola Tinubu administration, being a rule-based government, will not enter into any international agreement that will be detrimental to the interests of the country and its citizens. The Samoa Agreement is a vital legal framework for cooperation between the OACPS and the European Union to promote sustainable development, fight climate change and its effects, generate investment opportunities, and foster collaboration among OACPS member states on the international stage.”
