Tinubu Administration Clarifies Reasons For Signing Samoa Agreement On LGBTQ Issues

Tinubu Administration Clarifies Reasons For Signing Samoa Agreement On LGBTQ Issues....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Nigerian government, under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, has clarified that its signing of the Samoa agreement was in the nation’s best interests. The decision followed extensive reviews and consultations by an Interministerial Committee comprising the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning (FMBEP), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), and Federal Ministry of Justice (FMOJ). The agreement aims to foster investment opportunities and enhance collaboration between Nigeria and other nations.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, issued a statement on Thursday addressing the controversy surrounding the signing. He emphasized that the agreement does not endorse LGBTQ rights in Nigeria, which remain illegal under Nigerian law. The government’s endorsement included a Declaration Statement dated June 26, 2024, stipulating that any provision conflicting with Nigerian laws would be deemed invalid.

“It is crucial to recognize that Nigeria has legislation prohibiting same-sex relationships, enacted in 2014,” stated Idris. He reassured that President Tinubu’s administration would not engage in any international agreements detrimental to Nigeria’s interests. The negotiations adhered strictly to the mandates established in 2018 between the European Union (EU) and the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS).

Idris further highlighted the Samoa Agreement as a crucial legal framework for promoting sustainable development, combating climate change, and fostering international cooperation among OACPS Member States and the EU.