President Bola Tinubu’s administration has said that the Samoa Agreement signed by Nigeria at the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium, was done in the interest of the nation.
The agreement which reportedly has some clauses that compel underdeveloped and developing nations to support the agitations by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community for recognition, as a condition for getting financial and other support from advanced societies.
Mr. Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
According to Idris, the agreement, signed by 27 EU Member States and 47 OACPS Member States in 2018, aims to promote sustainable development, combat climate change, generate investment opportunities, and foster collaboration among member states.
He explained that the agreement consists of 103 articles, including a common foundational compact and three regional protocols for Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.
He clarified that Nigeria’s signing of the agreement followed extensive reviews and consultations by an interministerial committee, ensuring that none of the agreement’s provisions contravene Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution or laws.
A Statement of Declaration, dated June 26, 2024, clarifies Nigeria’s understanding and context of the agreement, stating that any provision inconsistent with Nigerian laws shall be invalid.
The minister of information added that the signing of the agreement signifies President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to a rule-based government, ensuring international agreements align with the country’s interests and citizens’ well-being.
