‘Nigeria not present at EU-ACP Samoa Agreement signing’

Amid raging controversies over the European Union and Africa-Caribbean and Pacific countries (EU-ACP) Partnership Agreement, known as the Samoa Agreement between Member States of the Organization of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the EU, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday refuted claims that Nigeria has signed the agreement on Wednesday.

In a statement yesterday by spokesperson of the ministry, Mrs. Francisca Omayuli, said Nigeria was not present at the signing of the agreement. She said: “Relevant Nigerian stakeholders are studying the instrument with a view to ensuring that its provisions do not contravene Nigeria’s domestic legislation after government’s attention had been drawn to diverse pronouncements and publications on the implication of Nigeria’s signature.

“The Samoa Agreement covers six 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.”

A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) had earlier advised the Federal Government against signing the agreement. According to the CSOs, if ACP governments succumb to the EU’s intimidation and sign the Lesbianism, Gay marriage, Bisexual, Transgender and Bisexual (LGBT) agreement, it would spell doom, arguing that the pact was aimed at the homosexualisation and LGBTisation of nations.