Civil society groups protest against alleged plans by Tinubu to sign a pro-LGBTQ agreement with the EU-ACP

Civil Society groups in Nigeria have urged Bola Tinubu not to sign an agreement with the European Union that allows for the decriminalisation of LGBTG in Nigeria. 

Today, November 15, 2023, was set aside by the European Union (EU) to coax African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries into signing an LGBT agreement between the EU and ACP countries. 

For some months now, several meetings have been convened between the EU and ACP parliamentarians aimed at getting ACP leaders to sign the controversial LGBT agreement. 

One such meeting between the EU and ACP Ministers took place in Brussels on November 28, 2022, to potentially exert greater pressure on ACP Ministers to persuade ACP heads of governments to sign the LGBT agreement. 

Another meeting with the same objective took place from June 19 to 28, 2023, in Brussels.  

Members of civil society groups in Nigeria have now urged Tinubu to avoid signing the agreement as it a violation of the values Nigerians hold dear. 

Chairman of the Human Rights Committe, Sonnie Ekwowusi said, “This cannot go because LGBT is illegal in Nigeria. There is what is called safe-sex provision act 2014, which was enacted during the government of Jonathan and that law is still there. 

“Why should we now go ahead and sign a document that has to do with the promotion of LGBT? It is completely unacceptable and we should not sign. Nigeria should say ‘no’.” 

Watch him speak the video below.