The Federal Government has refuted claims that the Samoa partnership agreement, signed on June 28, endorses the rights of LGBTQ people in Nigeria and involves a $150 billion deal.
At a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, Minister of Budget and Planning, Mr. Atiku Bagudu, dismissed the report from Daily Trust Newspapers. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Bagudu, alongside his Information and National Orientation counterpart, Mohammed Idris, addressed the issue to counter the allegations.
The report had alleged that the Federal Government’s agreement included clauses endorsing LGBTQI rights and promised $150 billion in return. This sparked social, religious, and cultural tension, becoming a focal point in sermons across Mosques and Churches.
Bagudu clarified that the Samoa agreement was signed at the Organisation of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium. The partnership, involving the European Union (EU) and its member states, alongside OACPS nations, began negotiations in 2018 and was signed on Nov. 15, 2018, by all 27 EU member states and 47 of the 79 OACPS states.
The agreement, which focuses on cooperation in areas such as sustainable economic growth, environment, and human rights protection, was thoroughly reviewed and consulted on by an interministerial committee.
“There is no mention of $150 billion or any reference to LGBTQ rights in the document,” Bagudu asserted. He emphasized that President Bola Tinubu, a proud Nigerian, would never endorse any document contravening Nigeria’s laws and constitution.
Bagudu explained that Nigeria’s signing of the agreement followed extensive reviews by the Ministries of Budget and Economic Planning, Foreign Affairs, and Justice. Any provision inconsistent with Nigerian law is considered null and void.
“There is an existing law against same-sex marriage since 2014,” he reiterated, assuring Nigerians that Tinubu’s administration would not enter any international agreement detrimental to the country’s interests.
The Samoa agreement, according to Bagudu, focuses on economic development, security, environment, migration, mobility, and climate change, among other areas, without supporting LGBTQ rights.
“President Tinubu respects our diversities and wouldn’t sign any agreement undermining our constitution or laws,” Bagudu stated. He called for truthfulness and patriotism from the media, highlighting the sensitivity of development partners to media reports.
“Let us not ridicule ourselves and scare international investors. Nigerians should know the truth,” Bagudu said, urging support for the nation’s efforts in securing foreign investments and cooperation.
