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The Federal Government has pledged to nullify any clauses related to "same-sex" provisions in the "Samoa Agreement" signed by the European Union, EU Member States, and African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) States, including Nigeria.
This decision was announced by Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation on Thursday night in response to widespread criticism of the human rights and gender equality aspects of the agreement.
The "Samoa Agreement," which was finalized on November 15, 2023, emphasizes human rights, democracy, good governance, gender equality, and the rule of law.
The agreement replaces the Cotonou Agreement from 2000 and aims to promote economic development.
The EU has committed to investing at least €150 billion in Africa by 2027 through the "Global Gateway Africa-Europe Investment Package." This includes various infrastructure projects such as the construction of the Rosso Bridge between Mauritania and Senegal and the modernization of highways in Kenya.
The Media Assistant to the Minister of Budget, Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi, emphasized that the agreement focuses solely on economic development and did not mention anything related to same-sex provisions.
He clarified that the documents signed by the federal government were specifically for economic development and did not include any references to LGBTQ or same-sex marriage.
