House member Aliyu Madaki raised concerns about the section promoting “gender equality” in the Samoa Agreement, describing it as a potential Trojan horse that could undermine national morality. The House has mandated its relevant committees to investigate the contentious provisions of the agreement.
The Samoa Agreement, signed by the Nigerian Federal Government and the European Union, has stirred controversy. Many believe it implicitly recognizes Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) rights, which contradicts Nigeria’s anti-same-sex marriage law enacted in 2014 under President Goodluck Jonathan.
At a press conference on Saturday, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, alongside Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, assured that Nigeria would not enter into any agreement that contravenes its constitution or religious and cultural values. Bagudu emphasized that the agreement was signed to enhance food security, inclusive economic development, and other critical areas.
The Samoa Agreement, signed last November by the European Union, its 27 member states, and 79 member states of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), aims to address global challenges such as climate change, ocean governance, migration, health, peace, and security. Nigeria signed the agreement on June 28, 2024, which was recently disclosed by Bagudu.
A review by the European Parliament of the Samoa Agreement noted that the initial draft included provisions for LGBT rights, but member states were reluctant to explicitly mention sexual orientation and gender identity. The parties ultimately agreed to adhere to existing international agreements on the matter. Consequently, references to LGBT rights were removed from the final agreement, which now includes a commitment to promoting gender equality. Specifically, Article 2, clause 5 of the final agreement states, “the parties shall systematically promote a gender perspective and ensure that gender equality is mainstreamed across all policies.”