President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), says there was no provision in the SAMOA Agreement that requires Nigeria to accept or recognise Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Queen (LGBTQ) rights.
Mr Maikyau noted that the narrative being propagated was either due to ignorance of the contents of the agreement, or a deliberate intention to mislead the public, “neither of which is good”.
In a statement signed by Maikyau in Lagos, by NBA National Publicity Secretary, Mr Habeeb Lawal, the NBA urged the public to at all times, query newspaper and social media post.
He notes that the NBA remained committed to ensuring that the actions of government are people-focused adding that the NBA will continue to engage and advise government to advance the cause of the nation.
Mr Maikyau, therefore, says government must continue with the public enlightenment already being undertaken.
He urges other stakeholders to join in doing so, in order to counter the negative perception being promoted on the agreement.
The Samoa Agreement is a partnership agreement and a vital legal framework for cooperation between the EU and its member states, on the one hand, and members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, also known as OACPS.
The multilateral agreement is colloquially called the ‘Samoa Agreement’ because its signing took place on the Island of Samoa in Oceania during the 46th session of the ACP-EU Council of Ministers.
The agreement, signed by Nigeria and other members of the OACPS, is based on six key priorities to tackle the main challenges in the member countries over the next two decades.
The Nigerian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the European Union, Obinna Onowu, signed the agreement on behalf of the Nigerian Government at the OACPS Secretariat in Brussels on June 28, 2024.
