The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, addressed concerns on Thursday regarding the $150bn Samoa Agreement, affirming that it serves the country’s best interests and adheres to Nigerian law, including the legislation against same-sex marriage.
Idris’s response followed a Daily Trust report, which claimed the agreement contained clauses obliging underdeveloped and developing nations to endorse LGBTQ rights as a prerequisite for receiving financial and other support from developed countries. This sparked widespread condemnation from Nigerians.
In a statement, Idris refuted the allegations, emphasizing that the agreement does not promote same-sex relationships. He pointed out the 2014 legislation banning such relationships in Nigeria and assured citizens that the current administration, led by President Bola Tinubu, would not engage in any international agreements harmful to Nigeria or its people.
“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 interest of the country and its citizens,” Idris stated. He added that the agreement is a crucial legal framework for cooperation between the OACPS (Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States) and the European Union, aiming to foster sustainable development, combat climate change, generate investment opportunities, and promote international collaboration among OACPS member states.
Idris detailed that the agreement, signed on June 28, underwent extensive review and consultation by an Interministerial Committee involving the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Federal Ministry of Justice. He reassured that none of the 103 articles and provisions in the agreement conflict with the Nigerian Constitution or existing laws.
The minister’s comments aim to clarify the government’s position and reassure the public amid growing concerns and misinformation surrounding the Samoa Agreement.
