The federal government of Nigeria has stated that the same-sex marriage clause in the Samoa Agreement is not binding on Nigeria. The country made a public declaration that any part of the agreement inconsistent with its laws will be invalid.
“Nigeria’s endorsement was accompanied by a Statement of Declaration, dated June 26, 2024, clarifying its understanding and context of the Agreement within its jurisdiction to the effect that any provision that is inconsistent with the laws of Nigeria shall be invalid. It is instructive to note that there is an existing legislation against same sex relationship in Nigeria enacted in 2014,” Mohammed Idris, the minister of information and national orientation, said in a statement on Thursday.
Idris noted that the agreement was signed in the country’s interest after extensive reviews and consultations by the Interministerial Committee, convened by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
“On June 28, 2024, Nigeria signed the Samoa Agreement at the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium. The partnership agreement is between the EU and its Member States, on one hand, and the members of the OACPS on the other,” he said.
Negotiations on the agreement began in 2018, on the sidelines of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly. The agreement was eventually signed in Apia, Samoa, on November 15, 2018, by all 27 EU Member states and 47 of the 79 OACPS Member states.
“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,” Idris said.
The agreement comprises 103 articles, including a common foundational compact and three regional protocols: Africa-EU, Caribbean-EU, and Pacific-EU Regional Protocols, each addressing the unique issues of their respective regions.
The African Regional Protocol consists of two parts: the Framework for Cooperation and Areas of Cooperation. These include Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth and Development; Human and Social Development; Environment, Natural Resources Management, and Climate Change; Peace and Security; Human Rights, Democracy, and Governance; and Migration and Mobility.
Nigeria signed the agreement on June 28, 2024, following extensive reviews and consultations by the Interministerial Committee. This committee was convened by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Justice. It was ensured that none of the 103 articles and provisions of the agreement contravened the 1999 Constitution, as amended, or any other extant laws of Nigeria.
