ADVERTISEMENT
TechEconomy
Sunday, June 1, 2025
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Tech
    • DisruptiveTECH
    • ConsumerTech
      • Accessories
      • Phones
      • Laptop
      • Gadgets and Appliances
      • Apps
    • How To
    • TechTAINMENT
  • Business
    • Telecoms
      • Broadband
    • Mobility
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Commerce
    • StartUPs
    • TE Insights
    • Security
  • Partners
  • Economy
    • Finance
    • Fintech
    • Digital Assets
    • Personal Finance
    • Insurance
  • Features
    • IndustryINFLUENCERS
    • Guest Writer
    • Appointment
    • EventDIARY
    • Editorial
  • Apply
  • TecheconomyTV
  • Techeconomy Events
  • BusinesSENSE For SMEs
  • TBS
  • News
  • Tech
    • DisruptiveTECH
    • ConsumerTech
      • Accessories
      • Phones
      • Laptop
      • Gadgets and Appliances
      • Apps
    • How To
    • TechTAINMENT
  • Business
    • Telecoms
      • Broadband
    • Mobility
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Commerce
    • StartUPs
    • TE Insights
    • Security
  • Partners
  • Economy
    • Finance
    • Fintech
    • Digital Assets
    • Personal Finance
    • Insurance
  • Features
    • IndustryINFLUENCERS
    • Guest Writer
    • Appointment
    • EventDIARY
    • Editorial
  • Apply
  • TecheconomyTV
  • Techeconomy Events
  • BusinesSENSE For SMEs
  • TBS
No Result
View All Result
Tech | Business | Economy
No Result
View All Result
Podcast

Home » Controversial $150bn Samoa Agreement Sparks LGBTQ Rights Debate

Controversial $150bn Samoa Agreement Sparks LGBTQ Rights Debate

By Destiny Eseaga

Techeconomy by Techeconomy
July 5, 2024
in News
0
Controversial $150bn Samoa Agreement
Mohammed Idris, Nigeria's Minister of Information and National Orientation.

Mohammed Idris, Nigeria's Minister of Information and National Orientation.

RelatedPosts

Interswitch partners with PKB

Interswitch, PKB to Boost Lagos Smart Health Information Platform

May 31, 2025

NCC Boosts Telemedicine in Nigeria, Commissions Ondo e-Health Project

May 30, 2025

 

Controversy erupted recently over a $150bn Samoa trade agreement signed by the Federal Government of Nigeria with the European Union, igniting LGBTQ protection backlash.

It will be recalled that last November, the European Union, its 27 member states, and 79 member states of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) signed an agreement in Apia, the capital of the Pacific island country of Samoa. Hence, it was referred to as the ‘Samoa Agreement’.

With the new agreement which succeeded the Cotonou Agreement, the parties are expected to be better equipped to address emerging needs and global challenges, such as climate change, ocean governance, migration, health, peace, and security.

Nigeria signed the agreement on June 28, 2024, but it became public knowledge this week after a disclosure by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu.

Controversy

The disclosure about the Samoa deal sparked a barrage of reactions online with many opposing what they believed was a recognition of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) rights, which is contrary to the laws of the land.

In 2014, then-President Goodluck Jonathan assented to a bill outlawing same-sex marriages and gay relationships, making LGBT unacceptable and unlawful in Nigeria.

A former lawmaker Shehu Sani, in a post on X, said, “African states should not accept loans or grants from any country, group of countries or international institutions that came with demonic conditions antithetical to our culture, religious faiths and values. All African countries including Nigeria who appended their signatures should go back and ‘unsign’ the Samoa agreement.

Also, an official of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Abubakar Akande, reportedly opposed same-sex marriage and LGBT rights, stating that the agreement goes against the country’s moral and religious values.

On its part, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) called on the Federal Government to withdraw from the controversial agreement saying, “This treacherous move is a betrayal of the Nigerian people’s trust and values, and we demand that the government immediately withdraw from this agreement.”

Even some concerned Nigerians are not left out in the controversy as a Facebook user Muhammad Yaqub wrote on his page: “History will have it that the LGBT Samoa agreement was signed under the Muslim-Muslim administration.”

Amid the raging reactions, Bagudu’s spokesman Bolaji Adebiyi said, “The documents signed by the Federal Government, were strictly for the economic development of Nigeria, nowhere in the documents were LGBT or same-sex marriage mentioned even remotely, and it would be wrong for anyone to imply that Nigeria had accepted those tendencies. What Bagudu signed was about a $150 billion trade component.”

Also, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga in a Thursday post on X faulted the notion that the deal had elements supporting LGBT rights, contrary to the laws of the land.

Similarly, Information Minister Mohammed Idris in a statement on Thursday said Nigeria signed the Samoa Agreement in the best interest of the country after extensive reviews and consultations.

He said, “It was ensured that none of the 103 Articles and Provisions of the Agreement contravenes the 1999 Constitution as amended or laws of Nigeria and other extant Laws.

“In addition, Nigeria’s endorsement was accompanied by a Statement of Declaration, dated 26th June 2024, clarifying its understanding and context of the Agreement within its jurisdiction to the effect that any provision that is inconsistent with the laws of Nigeria shall be invalid.

“It is instructive to note that there is an existing legislation against same-sex relationships in Nigeria enacted in 2014.

“It is necessary to assure Nigerians that the President Bola Tinubu Administration, being a rule-based government, will not enter into any international agreement that will be detrimental to the interest of the country and its citizens.”

A Comedic Misunderstanding

In a review of the Samoa Agreement, after it was signed last November, the European Parliament observed that the initial draft agreement contained the LGBT provision but noted that member states “were reluctant to see the foundation agreement mention sexual orientation and gender identity (LGBTI rights)”.

Parties, however, reached a compromise to commit only to the implementation of existing international agreements on the matter.

Subsequently, LGBT rights were expunged from the final agreement and replaced with “gender equality”. Specifically, Article 2, clause 5 of the final agreement stated that “the parties shall systematically promote a gender perspective and ensure that gender equality is mainstreamed across all policies”.

 

Loading

Advertisements
MTN ADS

Author

  • Techeconomy
    Techeconomy

    View all posts
0Shares
Previous Post

V- Convention Demonstrates QNET’s Commitment to Transparency, Accountability – Biram Fall

Next Post

IoT West Africa: Why Nigeria is Africa’s Next Silicon Valley

Techeconomy

Techeconomy

Related Posts

Interswitch partners with PKB
News

Interswitch, PKB to Boost Lagos Smart Health Information Platform

by Destiny Eseaga
May 31, 2025
0

As part of efforts to boost the Lagos Smart Health Information Platform (SHIP) initiative, Interswitch's Digital Health Platform (DHP) has...

Read more
Aminu Maida | NCC } Telecoms Tariff adjustment | USPF | e-Health Project

NCC Boosts Telemedicine in Nigeria, Commissions Ondo e-Health Project

May 30, 2025
UK Minister for Africa in Nigeria

PARTNERSHIP: UK Minister for Africa Lord Collins Visits Nigeria

May 30, 2025
Glo Digital Village | Huawei

Glo, Huawei partnership Bring FG’s Digital Village Project to Live

May 30, 2025
Essential cybersecurity measures for Nigerian SMBs

Essential cybersecurity measures for Nigerian SMBs

May 30, 2025
ConNovate 2025

ConNovate 2025: Nigeria Computer Society Selects Kano as Host State for its 19th Int’l Conference

May 30, 2025
Next Post
IoT West Africa and Silicon Valley -

IoT West Africa: Why Nigeria is Africa’s Next Silicon Valley

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Techeconomy Podcast

Techeconomy Podcast
Techeconomy Podcast

Infowave is brought to you by TechEconomy. Every week we will bring new stories from startups and influencers who are shaping and changing the world we live in. We’ll also bring you reports on topics you should know.

Follow us @techeconomyng for more.

TECH TALK EPISODE 2
byTecheconomy

PRODUCTIVITY AND WORK-Life Balance

TECH TALK EPISODE 2
TECH TALK EPISODE 2
May 22, 2025
Techeconomy
CYBERSECURITY ESSENTIALS
April 24, 2025
Techeconomy
Digital Marketing Trends and strategies for 2025 and beyond
February 27, 2025
Techeconomy
Major Lesson for Techies in 2024 and Projections for 2025
December 6, 2024
Techeconomy
Major Lessons for Techies in an AI-Driven World | Techeconomy Business Series Highlights
November 26, 2024
Techeconomy
Maximizing Profitability Through Seasonal Sales: Strategies For Success
November 8, 2024
Techeconomy
Techeconomy Business Series
October 15, 2024
Techeconomy
PRIVACY IN THE ERA OF AI: GETTING YOUR BUSINESS READY
May 30, 2024
Techeconomy
Unravel the Secrets of Marketing Everywhere All At Once with Isaac Akanni from Infobip | Infowave Podcast Episode 1
February 9, 2024
Techeconomy
The Role of Ed-tech in Life Long Learning and Continuous Education
October 19, 2023
Techeconomy
Search Results placeholder

WHAT IS TRENDING

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_MCUwS2woc&list=PL6bbK-xx1KbIgX-IzYdqISXq1pUsuA4dz

Follow Us

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Privacy Policy

© 2025 Techeconomy - Designed by Opimedia.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Tech
    • DisruptiveTECH
    • ConsumerTech
      • Accessories
      • Phones
      • Laptop
      • Gadgets and Appliances
      • Apps
    • How To
    • TechTAINMENT
  • Business
    • Telecoms
      • Broadband
    • Mobility
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Commerce
    • StartUPs
    • TE Insights
    • Security
  • Partners
  • Economy
    • Finance
    • Fintech
    • Digital Assets
    • Personal Finance
    • Insurance
  • Features
    • IndustryINFLUENCERS
    • Guest Writer
    • Appointment
    • EventDIARY
    • Editorial
  • Apply
  • TecheconomyTV
  • Techeconomy Events
  • BusinesSENSE For SMEs
  • TBS

© 2025 Techeconomy - Designed by Opimedia.

Translate »
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.