African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has challenged the Nigerian government to disclose the full terms of its recently announced $700 million minerals agreement with the United States, questioning what commitments President Bola Tinubu’s administration has made on behalf of the country.
Through his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku called for the immediate release of the agreement as controversy over the deal continues. The demand followed comments by Industry, Trade and Investment Minister Jumoke Oduwole, who said in a Tuesday television interview that Nigeria possesses adequate supplies of the minerals sought by the US and rejected allegations that the arrangement was being kept secret.
Atiku nevertheless questioned whether the pact signed by Tinubu is substantially similar to an arrangement that the administration of Ghanaian President John Mahama declined because of unresolved concerns. He said Nigerians currently had no way to determine whether provisions rejected by Ghana were included in Nigeria’s agreement, making publication of the text necessary rather than optional.
He urged the Federal Government to release the complete memorandum of understanding, along with all associated protocols, annexes, data-exchange terms, specimen-transfer agreements and financial commitments. Atiku said the public should be able to establish whether medical records or pathogen samples could be transferred outside Nigeria, which institutions or individuals would be permitted to access them, and what protections would apply to patients.
He also sought clarification on whether the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, or NAFDAC, would retain unrestricted powers to examine medicines and other medical products. In addition, he asked the government to specify the spending obligations accepted by both the federal administration and the states, calling on Tinubu to place the documents before Nigerians and provide direct answers to those questions.
