The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has clarified that there is no provision in the SAMOA agreement requiring Nigeria to accept or recognize LGBTQ or gay rights, either as a precondition for a $150 billion loan or at all.
In a statement signed by the President of the Association, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Yakubu Maikayau, it was emphasized that the agreement explicitly respects the local laws and sovereignty of the contracting nations.
“That is to say, the SAMOA agreement recognises, for instance, Nigeria’s Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, 2023 and of course, the Supremacy of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended)”.
The NBA says if this were not the case, it would have since advised the Federal Government not to enter or engage in any form of partnership or agreement that has the ability to undermine the sovereignty of the country in any way.
The Association also calls on the government to continue with the public enlightenment already being undertaken and for other stakeholders to join in doing so, to counter the negative perception being promoted on the agreement.
It urged the public to at all times, query newspaper and social media posts to determine the veracity of information contained in them.
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