Lawyer, NGOs Urge FG To Withdraw From Samoa Agreement, Oppose Surrogacy And Pandemic Treaty
A coalition of Nigerian NGOs, under the Foundation for Cultural Heritage (FACH), and human rights lawyer Sonnie Ekwowusi, have called on the Federal Government (FG) to withdraw from the Samoa Agreement, labeling it detrimental to Nigeria’s cultural values and sovereignty.
During a world press conference in Lagos, FACH and its partners, including Family Action Africa, Project for Human Development, and Global Pro-life Alliance, urged the FG to push for a reservation clause to protect the country’s values. The clause would ensure that no terms in the agreement promote LGBT, same-sex marriage, comprehensive sexuality education, abortion, or transgenderism in Nigeria.
Ekwowusi, chairman of the Human and Constitutional Rights Committee of the African Bar Association, flagged provisions in the Samoa Agreement that allegedly conflict with Nigeria’s Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act of 2014 and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. He specifically highlighted Articles 36(2) and 97, which commit signatories to reproductive health policies and prioritise the agreement above other treaties, potentially imposing foreign values on Nigeria.
“These clauses undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty, making African nations accountable to the European Union,” Ekwowusi argued.
Omoye Olaye, convener of Parental Care Initiative for Future Leadership, criticized Nigeria’s education system, accusing it of promoting colonial-era values that do not reflect the country’s history, present, or future aspirations. She lamented the lack of skill-based learning, leaving students ill-equipped for society.
Meanwhile, Jacinta Akuchinyere Adeyemi, CEO of Eveh’s Social Care Foundation, raised concerns about a bill regulating surrogacy, which she claimed destabilizes marriages and infringes on family rights. She argued that surrogacy contradicts several Nigerian laws, including sections of the Constitution, the Child Rights Act, and the Trafficking in Persons Prohibition Act.
Gynecologist Dr. Obielumani Ideh expressed alarm over the proposed Pandemic Treaty, which she said grants the World Health Organization (WHO) excessive powers to dictate health policies during pandemics. She warned that the treaty could allow the distribution of controversial medical supplies, such as abortion kits, without clear definitions.
Dr. Ideh also criticised the treaty’s introduction of a pathogen access and benefits-sharing system, which she argued could incentivise dangerous gain-of-function research, potentially increasing the risk of pandemics. She called on the FG to oppose the treaty, citing social and health damages caused by previous pandemic measures like lockdowns, mask mandates, and rushed vaccine rollouts.
The coalition urged the government to prioritise Nigeria’s cultural heritage, sovereignty, and public well-being by rejecting international agreements and treaties that conflict with its values and legal frameworks.
