Former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has called for greater transparency over the mineral investment framework recently signed between Nigeria and the United States.
Nigeria and the US signed the framework on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The agreement, signed by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, and the US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, is aimed at deepening American investment in Nigeria’s mining sector, including geological exploration, mineral development and processing, infrastructure, and technical capacity.
Reacting in a post on X on Friday, Sani said the details of the agreement should have been made public earlier to allow for parliamentary scrutiny and ensure that Nigeria’s interests and those of host communities are adequately protected.
He said the agreement should not merely be used as a replacement for Chinese mining companies or to appease any party.
Sani said: “The reported signing of a $700 billion mineral exploration deal between Nigeria and the US on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly is a commendable achievement.
“But the details of the deal should have been made public earlier for at least parliamentary scrutiny; that would ensure our national interests and the interests of the host communities are well protected.
“The deal should not just be a swap to replace the Chinese miners or appease anyone.
“Taking cognisance of the fact that most of the communities that host these precious minerals, like lithium, gold, rare earth elements and uranium, are infested by bandits, security issues must be factored in.
“A mineral deal is not just an economic issue but also a sovereignty issue that must be treated seriously. When you sign a deal with a superpower, you can’t easily ‘unsign’.”
Mineral deal: Nigerians should know details – Shehu Sani demands parliamentary scrutiny