The retraction follows scrutiny from Nigerians over the terms of the agreement. Doris Uzoka-Anite, the Nigerian Minister for Trade and Investment, took to X platform to issue a thread retracting her earlier statement.

She underscored that there exists no legal agreement between Nigeria and the UK, clarifying the situation.

She said, “Earlier today, Nigeria signed a far-reaching MoU with the United Kingdom for Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership.

“Regrettably, our earlier report erroneously suggest that Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding that allows lawyers licensed in the United Kingdom to practise in Nigeria.

“We wish to state emphatically that there is no such provision or agreement in the MpU.”

The minister reiterated that Nigeria does not have a Mutual Recognition Agreement with the UK and made no commitment under the MOU or elsewhere, to allow UK-licensed lawyers practise in Nigeria.

“As it currently stands, foreign licensed lawyers (including those licensed in the UK) cannot practise in Nigeria, as categorically stated in the MoU.

“We recognise that cross jurisdictional practice between Nigeria and the United Kingdom is still an ongoing conversation amongst relevant stakeholders within the legal practitioners community in Nigeria, and this was reflected in the MoU,” she added.

On Tuesday, a statement by the UK’s Department of Business and Trade, and a tweet from Nigeria’s Minister of Trade and Investment, had disclosed that Nigeria was signing a deal to remove barriers preventing UK lawyers from practising international law in Nigeria.

The Nigerian Bar Association had also condemned the purported agreement, stating that the statement credited to the minister was “ridiculous, unpatriotic, and uninformed.”

The branch chairman, Isaac Ogbah, who led the peaceful protest said all roads in the state were impassable, causing hardship for them and residents of the state, Daily Post reports.

“There is no good road in Ogun State. All the roads have failed. The lawyers and judges don’t get to courts on time due to the condition of these roads. The residents too are suffering.

“We are giving the Federal Government 14 days to make a specific statement on these roads. After 14 days, if we don’t hear from them, we shall move to the next phase.”

Recall that Gov Dapo Abiodun of Ogun and his Lagos State counterpart had written to the Federal Government, asking it to hand over three of its roads to them for repairs and tolling.

Meanwhile, Abiodun said the Presidency was intending to partner with his government and Lagos State government in repairing the roads, instead of transferring them to Ogun and Lagos States.