Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on the Federal Government to immediately disclose the full details of the $700bn reported minerals agreement signed with the United States, insisting that the National Assembly should thoroughly scrutinise the deal to safeguard Nigeria’s national interests.
The forum said transparency, accountability and the protection of host communities must remain at the centre of any agreement involving the country’s strategic mineral resources.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the ACF expressed concern over what it described as the secrecy surrounding the agreement reportedly signed on September 23, 2026, in New York.
According to the forum, Nigerians have not been provided with key details of the deal, including its terms, scope, financial commitments and implementation framework.
While acknowledging that responsible foreign investment and technical cooperation could benefit the country’s mining sector, the ACF maintained that such partnerships must not undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty or deny citizens the economic benefits of their natural resources.
The forum noted that Northern Nigeria possesses commercially valuable mineral deposits such as gold, lithium and lead-zinc, which could create jobs, stimulate industrialisation, increase government revenue and diversify the regional economy if properly managed.
It stressed, however, that attracting foreign investors should not be the only objective, adding that mineral exploitation must translate into tangible benefits for Nigerians, especially communities where the resources are located.
According to the ACF, such benefits should include local employment, skills development, increased Nigerian participation in the mining sector, local mineral processing, infrastructure development, environmental protection and fair compensation for affected communities.
The forum also expressed concern that persistent insecurity across parts of Northern Nigeria could expose mining communities to illegal exploitation, displacement, environmental degradation and the loss of legitimate economic opportunities.
It therefore urged the Federal Government, security agencies and mining regulators to explain the measures being put in place to protect mining sites, host communities and revenues generated from lawful mineral development.
The ACF further called for thorough investigations into allegations of illegal mineral exploitation and any involvement of foreign interests in criminal activities, saying such claims should be examined by competent authorities based on credible evidence.
Clarifying its position, the forum said it was not opposed to cooperation between Nigeria and the United States but insisted that any agreement must guarantee transparency and ensure that Nigeria and mineral-producing communities receive a fair and enforceable share of the benefits.
The ACF based its demand on Sections 14(2)(b) and 16(1)(a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, which allows citizens access to public records subject to legal limitations.
Among the issues it wants the Federal Government to clarify are the legal status of the agreement, financial commitments by the United States, the identities and responsibilities of participating companies, and whether any exclusive purchasing rights or preferential access have been granted.
The forum also sought explanations on safeguards protecting Nigeria’s regulatory powers, ownership of geological data and any financial liabilities arising from the agreement.
It equally demanded enforceable guarantees on local mineral processing, technology transfer, Nigerian ownership and participation, environmental restoration, compensation for affected communities and measures to prevent pollution, land degradation, unsafe mining activities and conflicts over mineral-bearing land.
The ACF questioned the roles assigned to state governments, traditional institutions, host communities, artisanal miners and indigenous businesses in decisions relating to the development of Nigeria’s mineral resources.
The forum urged the Federal Government, the National Assembly and relevant regulatory institutions to publish the agreement and all related documents as permitted by law, disclose participating companies and clarify any preferential rights granted under the arrangement.
It also called for legislative oversight, transparent implementation, consultations with state governments and host communities, as well as regular reports on local participation, environmental safeguards and community benefits.
The ACF further urged governors, lawmakers, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, mining associations and community leaders to demand an equitable framework for mineral development.
It warned that Nigeria, particularly the North, could not afford a situation where its mineral resources are extracted while local communities remain poor, unemployed and exposed to environmental hazards.
The forum insisted that Nigeria’s mineral wealth should drive industrialisation, create productive jobs, support local enterprises and promote sustainable prosperity, declaring that “nothing short of full disclosure will suffice.”