Friday, September 25, 2026 - 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’.”
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