On June 28, 2024, the Nigerian government officially endorsed the Samoa Agreement, which was recently disclosed by Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning. The Agreement was signed at the Secretariat of the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) in Brussels, Belgium.
According to Minister Bagudu, Nigeria is partnering with the European Union (EU) and has signed the Agreement aimed at bolstering food security, promoting inclusive economic development, and advancing cultural, educational, water and sanitation, private sector development, and human rights initiatives, among other anticipated benefits. No doubt, the action is laudable.
Concerns have, however, arisen among some sectors regarding perceived recognition of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) rights in the Agreement, which contradict Nigeria’s cultural values. However, the Nigerian government allayed the fears and clarified that the Article of the Samoa Agreement does not imply such recognition, reassuring Nigerians.
Minister Bagudu highlighted Nigeria’s potential gains from enhanced access to international markets and increased revenue from cross-border trade, noting that the Agreement includes a substantial trade component worth $150 billion. As of now, 46 OACPS countries and 27 EU member states have reportedly signed the Agreement, and full implementation requires all 27 EU members to ratify it.
While the Agreement promises substantial advantages, it also raises concerns about what some perceive as the imposition of Western cultural norms under the guise of socio-economic development in Nigeria. Specifically, fears persist that the Agreement could introduce practices or beliefs, such as same-sex marriage, which contradict Nigeria’s deeply rooted cultural values. Adopting such measures risks diluting or undermining Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and traditions.
Nigerians have, therefore, conveyed a strong message to the international community, particularly Europe and America, through their reactions to the Samoa Agreement. They emphasize the importance of upholding civility while rejecting any perceived moral degradation under the pretext of advancing human rights, especially concerning gender issues beyond physiological fatalism.
They advocate that gender rights should be grounded in intrinsic and divine principles rather than merely societal constructs, which imply the ideas, beliefs, and norms that the Nigerian society creates, shapes, and upholds through shared values, practices, and institutions. These constructs are not inherently biological or natural but are instead shaped by human interactions, interpretations, and experiences within a cultural context.
Succinctly, Nigerians acknowledge its positive aspects while highlighting potential considerations. The Agreement is commendable, especially in areas like economic development. But the Nigerian government must, however, remain vigilant about clauses related to ‘human rights’ in the Agreement, which may be a Greek gift, concealing hidden risks and consequences. There is a concern that such provisions could be interpreted to include the adoption of the LGBT rights in Nigeria by the EU that has since legalised the same sex union.
There is apprehension that embracing the Samoa Agreement without careful consideration of its human rights implications, particularly regarding LGBT rights, could pose significant challenges within Nigeria’s socio-cultural framework.
Nigerians have been significantly influenced by Western cultures (education, cuisines, religion, fashion, music and entertainment, legal system, etc) to the extent that they have eroded or undermined their traditional ways of life, which are naturally endowed. The impact of introducing more Western cultural influences like the LGBT rights in the guise of ‘human rights’ on Nigerian society will potentially lead to the loss or devaluation of Nigerian indigenous cultural practices, beliefs, and values. This perspective underscores a desire to preserve Nigerian traditions and societal norms amid global influences, particularly regarding sensitive issues like LGBT rights, which may not align with traditional Nigerian beliefs and practices.
The Nigerian government should tread cautiously, ensuring that any agreement or commitments made do not compromise or conflict with deeply held cultural beliefs and practices of the over 200 million Nigerians.
Odaro, a columnist, lectures in the Department of Mass Communication, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi
