FG says Samoa agreement signed in Nigeria’s interest

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The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that the agreement signed with Samoa at the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium, on June 28, was in the interest of Nigerians.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated that the partnership agreement is between the EU and its Member States on one side, and the members of the OACPS on the other.

Mr. Idris explained that negotiations on the agreement began in 2018, during the 73rd United Nations General Assembly, and it was signed in Apia, Samoa, on November 15, 2018, by all 27 EU Member States and 47 of the 79 OACPS Member States.

He added that the agreement consists of 103 articles, comprising a common foundational compact and three regional protocols: the Africa-EU, Caribbean-EU, and Pacific-EU Regional Protocols. Each regional protocol addresses the specific issues of its region.

“The African Regional Protocol consists of two parts. The first is the Framework for Cooperation, while the second deals with Areas of Cooperation, including Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth and Development; Human and Social Development; Environment, Natural Resources Management, and Climate Change; Peace and Security; Human Rights, Democracy, and Governance; and Migration and Mobility.

“Nigeria signed the Agreement on Friday, June 28, 2024. This followed extensive reviews and consultations by the Interministerial Committee, convened by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning (FMBEP) in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Federal Ministry of Justice (FMOJ). It was ensured that none of the 103 Articles and Provisions of the Agreement contravenes the 1999 Constitution as amended or the laws of Nigeria, and other extant laws.

“In addition, Nigeria’s endorsement was accompanied by a Statement of Declaration, dated June 26, 2024, clarifying its understanding and context of the Agreement within its jurisdiction, stating that any provision inconsistent with the laws of Nigeria shall be invalid. It is important to note that there is existing legislation against same-sex relationships in Nigeria enacted in 2014.”

The minister assured Nigerians that President Bola Tinubu’s administration will not enter into any international agreement that would be detrimental to the interests of the country and its citizens.

In negotiating the Agreement, he noted that the officials strictly followed the mandates exchanged in 2018 between the EU and the OACPS for the process.

“The Samoa Agreement is a vital legal framework for cooperation between the OACPS and the European Union, to promote sustainable development, fight climate change and its effects, generate investment opportunities, and foster collaboration among OACPS Member States on the international stage.”