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The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) Wednesday demanded full disclosure of the reported critical minerals agreement between Nigeria and the United States.
It seeks details of its financial implications, participating companies, benefits to local communities and safeguards for the country’s mineral resources.
The forum said the reported agreement, which it said was signed on September 23, 2026, in New York, remained opaque, with insufficient publicly available information about its terms, scope and implementation framework.
In a statement, ACF national publicity secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, said the forum supported responsible foreign investment and technical cooperation but insisted that transparency, accountability and protection of Nigeria’s national interests must guide the development of its mineral resources.
He said Northern Nigeria had significant deposits of gold, lithium, lead-zinc and other commercially valuable minerals that could generate employment, boost industrial development and diversify the regional economy if properly managed.
However, the forum said the critical question was whether the reported arrangement would deliver measurable benefits to Nigerians, particularly communities where the minerals are found.
It called for clear commitments to local employment, skills development, Nigerian participation in mining businesses, local processing where feasible, infrastructure development, environmental protection and fair compensation for affected communities.
ACF also warned that insecurity across parts of Northern Nigeria could expose mineral-bearing communities to illegal exploitation, displacement, environmental degradation and the loss of legitimate economic opportunities.
It urged the federal government and relevant security and regulatory agencies to explain the measures that would protect mining sites and host communities and prevent criminal networks from exploiting the arrangement.
The forum further called for thorough investigations into any allegations of unlawful mineral exploitation or the involvement of foreign interests in criminal activities, adding that such claims should be addressed on the basis of credible evidence.
ACF said its concerns were not directed at cooperation with the United States but at ensuring that Nigeria and its mineral-producing communities received a fair, transparent and enforceable share of the benefits.
Citing Sections 14(2)(b) and 16 of the Constitution, alongside the Freedom of Information Act, the forum argued that the government should disclose the agreement to the extent permitted by law and submit it to appropriate legislative scrutiny. It also acknowledged the constitutional limits on the judicial enforcement of certain Chapter II provisions.
Among the questions it wants the government to answer are whether the complete agreement, including annexes and related documents, will be published; what investments, financing and technology the United States will provide; and whether participating companies have been granted preferential access or exclusive purchasing rights.
The forum also sought clarification on ownership and commercial use of geological data, responsibility for environmental remediation, compensation for affected communities, and the roles of state governments, traditional institutions, local communities and Nigerian businesses.
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