Samoa Agreement: Lawmakers urge Nigerian Government to suspend implementation

The House of Representatives has told the Federal Government to suspend the implementation of the Samoa Agreement signed recently until all controversial clauses are clearly defined to make sure they do not violate any law in Nigeria.

This followed the adoption of a motion by the Deputy Minority Leader, Aliyu Madaki and 88 others who called the House’s attention to some allegedly offensive clauses in the agreement.

Madaki, in his lead debate, said that there are concerns that some clauses in the agreement purportedly promote Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) rights, which is against extant laws in the country.

The lawmaker said; “On June 28, 2024, the federal government signed what is known as the Samoa Agreement with the European Union (EU) to boost food security and inclusive economic development, among other vital areas.

“The agreement allegedly has some clauses that compel underdeveloped and developing nations to support the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community as condition for getting financial and other support from advanced societies.”

Madaki also expressed concerns “That Article 97 of the Agreement, which states that, “no treaty, convention, agreement or arrangement of any kind between one or more member States of European and one or more OACPS Members shall impede the implementation of this Agreement”, is supremacy Clause and thus violates Nigeria’s sovereignty

“Some other Articles, especially Article 2. 5, 29. 5, 36. 2, and 88 in the Samoa Agreement stated that was signed by the Federal Government may 

be inimical to the interest of Nigeria as a country and the values of our people as a whole more so it does not contained a Reservation clause. 

“Article 2.5 states that parties shall systematically promote a gender perspective and ensure that gender equality is mainstreamed across all countries. 

“The phrase gender equality as reported is Trojan horse for deceptively bringing in all sort of immorality to our country, as gender no longer means two sexes male and female as traditionally understood, it now includes homosexualism, lesbianism, transgenderism and animalism; 

“The signing of such an agreement with the aforementioned clauses, if true violates our sovereignty and is a clear contravention of section 124 of the 1999 constitution as amended. The Federal Government may have signed the agreement without exhaustive consultations and consideration for possible long-term consequences.”

The House also mandated its Committees on National Planning and Economic Development, Justice, Treaties, Protocol and Agreement to interface with relevant government agencies to resolve all grey areas in the Agreement.

The Samoa agreement, which was signed by the government recently has been trailed by controversy, with several Nigerians kicking against it.

PIAK