FG reacts to allegations on LGBTQ treaty
The Federal Government has debunked claims of its signing to the recent treaty by Nigeria and members of States of the Organization of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union (EU).
In a statement issued on Thursday by Francisca Omayuli, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government said Nigeria was not present nor represented at the signing ceremony, which took place in Samoa, a caribbean nation on Wednesday.
“The general public is invited to note that Nigeria was not represented at the Signing Ceremony, which took place in Samoa on Wednesday, 15th November, 2023 and hence has not signed the Agreement,” Ms Omayuli said.
The government issued the disclaimer in response to allegations that Nigeria participated in the signing of a treaty known as the Samoa Agreement, between the Member States of the Organization of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union (EU).
The Samoa Agreement, covers six (6) key priority areas of Human Rights, Democracy and Governance; Peace and Security; Human and Social Development; Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change; Inclusive Sustainable Economic Growth; and Development, Migration and Mobility.
The Agreement supersedes and replaces the Cotonou Agreement (2000), which in turn was preceded by several other agreements aimed at bolstering relations between the OACPS and EU.
Some Civil Society groups in Nigeria have described Nigeria participation as a subtle introduction of LGBTQ campaign in Nigeria.
Many have also called in President Bola Tinubu not to sign an agreement with the European Union that allows for the decriminalisation of LGBTG in Nigeria.
The attention of the Federal Government of Nigeria has been drawn to divers pronouncements and publications on the implication of Nigeria signing the New Partnership Agreement, known as the Samoa Agreement, between the Member States of the Organization of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union (EU).
The Samoa Agreement, covers six (6) key priority areas of Human Rights, Democracy and Governance; Peace and Security; Human and Social Development; Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change; Inclusive Sustainable Economic Growth; and Development, Migration and Mobility.
The Agreement supersedes and replaces the Cotonou Agreement (2000), which in turn was preceded by several other agreements aimed at bolstering relations between the OACPS and EU.
The general public is invited to note that Nigeria was not represented at the Signing Ceremony, which took place in Samoa on Wednesday, 15th November, 2023 and hence has not signed the Agreement.
In reaction, the ministry said some relevant bodies are currently reviewing the instrument of the treaty in view of ensuring that the provisions does not contravances Nigeria’s law.
“Relevant Nigerian stakeholders are currently studying the Instrument with a view to ensuring that its provisions do not contravene Nigeria’s domestic legislation.
The Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill signed into law on January 7, 2014, by President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria imposes a 14-year prison sentence on anyone who “[enters] into a same-sex marriage contract or civil union,” and a 10-year sentence on individuals or groups, including religious leaders, who “witness, abet, and aid the solemnization of a same-sex marriage or union.”
It imposes a 10-year prison sentence on those who “directly or indirectly make [a] public show of [a] same-sex amorous relationship” and anyone who “registers, operates, or participates in gay clubs, societies, and organizations,” including supporters of those groups.
