The Foundation for African Cultural Heritage (FACH) , a coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations, has criticized the Nigerian government that it’s recent move in signing the Samoa Agreement would legalize abortion, regulate surrogacy, and endorse LGBT provisions.
FACH argues that these actions violate Nigeria’s laws, sovereignty, and cultural values.
The Group made its position known in a statement issued in Abuja on the 15th day of October, 2024.
Sharing thoughts on the issue, Dr Nkechi Asogwa, who is the Director of FACH, sheds more light on the ills of abortion legalization, emphasizing that abortion is illegal in Nigeria, citing sections 228-230 and 297-309 of the Criminal Code Act and the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as the group urged the government to uphold the country’s laws and not legalize abortion.
“Abortion is completely illegal in Nigeria, without any exception under which abortion can be permitted. By virtue of the combined effects of sections 228, 229,230, 297, 309, 328, of the Criminal Code Act CAP C38 (and their equivalent provisions in the Penal Code); sections 3,4, and 17 of the Child Rights Act 2003; sections 17 and 33 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution; Articles, 3, 4 and 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights; Preamble to the 1990 Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) (ratified and adopted by Nigeria) abortion is completely illegal in Nigeria,” the statement reads in part.
Asogwa further spoke on surrogacy regulation, that surrogacy is the exploitation of women’s bodies and illegal in Nigeria, referencing sections 17-21 and 33-38 of the 1999 Constitution. She stressed that FACH advocates for an outright ban on surrogacy instead of regulation.
“Surrogacy- renting a girls’ womb to bear children-thrives in Nigeria. It is the exploitation and objectification of women and girls’ bodies with the commercialization of childbirth. This practice diminishes the humanity of the women and girls who bear the child,” the statement adds.
On his part, chairman of the African Bar Association, Mr Sonnie Ekwowusi, spoke on the LGBT Provisions in Samoa Agreement, stressing that “FACH criticizes Nigeria’s signing of the Samoa Agreement, which contains LGBT provisions that contradict Nigeria’s laws and sovereignty.”
He added that the group’s position is an advice for the government to enter a reservation or seek amendments to remove these provisions.
As contained in the statement: “The African Bar Association (AfBA) has recently issued a Report on SAMOA AGREEMENT highlighting deceptive LGBT Provisions in the SAMOA AGREEMENT. 4. Therefore Nigeria is advised to enter a RESERVATION in the Samoa Agreement or seek for outright amendment to remove the LGBT, abortion, sexualization of children.”
Haleemah Alli-Bankole of Earman a member of FACH draws the attention of the ills of sexualisation of school pupils as she highlighted the negative impact of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) on innocent children.
She said FACH condemns the National Sexuality Education Curriculum because it promotes harmful practices like masturbation, abortion, and explicit sexual content, with arguments that this curriculum violates Nigeria’s laws and cultural values.
FACH urges the Nigerian government to uphold the country’s laws, sovereignty, and cultural values. It emphasized that democracy should respect the will, aspirations, and cultural values of the people, not impose alien practices and lifestyles.
“Laws are made in consonance with the values of a people. Every country is interested in protecting what it holds dear or its cherished values. LGTBQ1+, surrogacy, abortion, sexualization of school children are a complete break with African civilization. We must stick to our own values and traditions. It is suicidal to import practices and lifestyles which are alien to Nigeria and seek to impose them as laws all in the name of observing international obligations,” the statement disclosed.
The FACH statement was jointly signed by Mrs. Haleemah Alli-Bankole (Advocacy for Moral Sex Education), Barr. Aham Njoku (Director, Constitutional Watch), Mr. Yusuf Ayuba (Director, AyubsonLife Foundation), Mrs Chinwe Eze (Association of Concerned Mothers), Barr. Mary Ekemezie(Legal Consultant, FACH), Dr. Mkechi Asogwa(Director FACH), Ms. Naomi Ojugbeli (Programme Officer, Doctors Health Initiatives), and Dr. Regina Akosa (Director, Happy Home Foundation).
