Suspend Samoa Agreement Now, Reps Tells FG

Oluwatobi OdeyinkaJuly 9, 20241 Mins read695

Nigeria Govt Signs $150bn Samoa Deal With LGBT Clauses Despite Its Anti-Gay Law

The House of Representatives has asked the Federal Government to suspend the implementation of the controversial Samoa Agreement until it clarifies the clauses allegedly promoting homosexuality.

This followed a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by 88 members and moved on the floor of the House on Tuesday.

The Samoa Agreement is an agreement with the European Union, its member states, and member states of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) with key focuses on human rights, democracy and governance, peace and security, human and social development; inclusive, sustainable economic growth and development; environmental sustainability and climate change; and migration and mobility.

The federal government said it signed the agreement in the interest of Nigerians and in order to access a $150-million loan. Nigerian representatives signed the agreement on June 28, 2024, at the OACPS secretariat in Brussels, Belgium.

Daily Trust reported that the agreement contained LGBTQ+ clauses, but the government has rebutted this allegation, saying the LGBTQ+ clauses had been expunged before it signed it.

Aliyu Madaki, the HOR member who moved the motion for the suspension of the agreement’s implementation, argued that a clause of “gender equality” in the agreement is a Trojan horse which could violate the morals of the country.

After the motion was briefly debated, the House mandated its relevant committees to investigate the controversial provisions of the agreement.

It asked the Executive arm to suspend its implementation until the committee presents its findings and until it clarifies the controversial clauses.