By Lucy Adautin
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly denied reports that the Nigerian Government signed a $150 billion loan agreement contingent on recognizing LGBTQ rights.
In a statement signed by its National President, Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, the NBA clarified its involvement in the signing of the SAMOA Agreement by the Federal Government and asserted that it would have opposed any clause mandating LGBTQ rights recognition.
The NBA urged Nigerians to disregard the false narratives about the agreement and called on the government to better educate the public about the benefits of the deal.
The statement, released to the press on Tuesday, read: “Before the signing of the SAMOA agreement, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning requested the NBA, as a significant stakeholder, to review the agreement. Consequently, I constituted a committee chaired by Olawale Fapohunda, SAN, former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ekiti State, and Chairman of the NBA Law Reform Committee, to vet, evaluate, and advise on the agreement.”
The SAMOA Agreement, named after the South Pacific country where it was signed, is a broad legal framework between the European Union (EU) member states and over half of the 79 members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS). It aims to serve as a foundation for future specific agreements between the EU and the Federal Government, its sub-nationals, or the private sector, covering six main areas: democracy and human rights, sustainable economic growth and development, climate change, human and social development, peace and security, and migration and mobility.
Maikyau addressed the misinformation circulating in the media: “I have seen publications and social media posts reacting to the SAMOA Agreement, alleging that it includes clauses requiring Nigeria to endorse LGBTQ rights as a condition for accessing a $150 billion loan.
“Contrary to these misleading narratives, I affirm that the SAMOA agreement contains no provision requiring Nigeria to recognize LGBTQ rights as a pre-condition for any loan or at all. Instead, the agreement respects the local laws and sovereignty of the contracting nations, including Nigeria’s Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, 2023, and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”
He added, “If this were not the case, the NBA would have advised the Federal Government against any partnership or agreement that could undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty. For clarity, the SAMOA agreement does not compromise our existing laws or sovereignty.”
The NBA emphasized the importance of accurate information: “All stakeholders should educate the public on its true content. The negative narratives are being propagated along sensitive lines of faith, culture, and morality, I urge the government to continue its public enlightenment efforts and for other stakeholders to join in countering the negative perceptions of the agreement. The public should always verify information from newspapers and social media.”
Maikyau said, “The NBA remains committed to ensuring that government actions are people-focused, and we will see to it that nothing compromises Nigeria’s sovereignty. The NBA will continue to engage with the government, provide guidance, advance national interests, and hold the government accountable on behalf of the people.”
