In a statement released on July 8, 2024, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN, addressed the recent signing of the SAMOA Agreement by the Federal Government and the subsequent reactions from the public.

The SAMOA Agreement, named after the country where it was signed, is a broad legal framework between the European Union (EU) and over half of the 79 members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS). It serves as a basis for future agreements between the EU and the Nigerian government, its sub-nationals, and the private sector, covering areas such as democracy, human rights, sustainable economic growth, climate change, peace and security, and migration.

Maikyau clarified that contrary to the narrative being propagated, there is no provision in the SAMOA Agreement that requires Nigeria to accept or recognize LGBTQ or gay rights as a pre-condition for a loan of $150 billion USD. He emphasized that the agreement was expressly made subject to the local laws and sovereignty of the contracting nations, recognizing Nigeria’s Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, 2023, and the supremacy of the Nigerian Constitution.

The NBA President stated that if the agreement had compromised Nigeria’s sovereignty, the NBA would have advised the Federal Government not to engage in such a partnership. He called on the government and other stakeholders to continue with public enlightenment to counter the negative perceptions being promoted about the agreement.

Maikyau urged the public to query newspaper and social media posts and to check facts to determine the veracity of the information they consume. He reiterated the NBA’s commitment to ensuring that the government’s actions are people-focused and that nothing is done to compromise the integrity of Nigeria’s sovereignty.

The NBA President assured the public that the association would continue to engage with the government, provide advice and direction, advance the nation’s cause, and hold the government accountable on behalf of the Nigerian people.