The Arewa Consultative Forum has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the critical minerals deal between Nigeria and the United States.

The forum, in a statement signed by its national publicity secretary T. A. Muhammad-Baba, on Tuesday, expressed concerns over the government’s failure to transparently disclose full details of the agreement 

‘It is with concern that the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) views the refusal or reluctance of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to disclose details of the agreement widely reported in the national and international press to have been signed with the United States on 23rd September 2026, in New York, relating to the exploitation of critical and/or strategic minerals,” the ACF stated.

The forum noted that the reported deal remained opaque, particularly in the absence of sufficient publicly available information regarding the terms, scope, financial commitments, and implementation frameworks. 

It added, “While the Forum recognises the potential benefits of responsible international investment and technical cooperation, it considers transparency, accountability, national sovereignty, economic justice and the protection of Nigeria’s national interests as indispensable in any arrangement capable of having significant and lasting consequences for the country and the communities in which they occur. Full public disclosure, and scrutiny therefrom, are therefore very critical and should not be treated cavalierly.”

Noting the northern part of the country possesses significant deposits of gold, lithium, lead-zinc and other commercially valuable minerals, the ACF said that these resources could contribute substantially to employment generation, industrial development, public revenue and the diversification of the regional economy if properly exploited and developed within a transparent and accountable legal framework.

“For the ACF, the central issue is not simply whether these resources will attract foreign investment, but whether their development will translate into demonstrable or measurable and substantial benefits for the people of the region or elsewhere in the country, as legitimate aspirations.

“Such benefits should include meaningful Nigerian participation in mining and related industries, skills acquisition and development, local processing where commercially and technically viable, infrastructure development, environmental protection, fair compensation for affected communities and the creation of enduring economic opportunities,” the statement noted.

According to the forum, the concern is not, per se, cooperation with the U.S. but whether Nigeria, and particularly mineral-producing communities, will receive a fair, transparent and enforceable share of the benefits.

It explained, “It is thus that the Forum supports responsible foreign investment, but not investment without transparency; mineral development, but not extraction without value addition; and international partnership, but not arrangements whose terms and benefits remain opaque.”

Citing various provisions of the constitution in which its demands were anchored, the ACF challenged the government to fully disclose the agreement in question, without withholding any material facts, as well as submit to appropriate legislative oversight.

It demanded full details regarding the nature of the agreement, its benefits to Nigerians, the rights of participating parties, the guarantees for mineral-endowed communities in Nigeria among others.

The northern forum urged the Tinubu-led government, the National Assembly and the relevant regulatory institutions to ensure full transparency and appropriate scrutiny, particularly on the legal status and financial implications of the agreement.

It also charged the government to establish a transparent mechanism for monitoring implementation and reporting progress and consult relevant state governments, affected communities and other stakeholders in accordance with applicable laws.

“More than just a political statement, ACF calls on key national and community stakeholders to insist on a clear framework for equitable benefit-sharing and responsible resource development. This is a task and a responsibility for state governors, legislators, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, mining associations and community representatives.

“Nigeria in general, and the northern region in particular, cannot afford an extractive arrangement in which its resources leave the ground while its people remain poor, unemployed and exposed to environmental damage. Our mineral wealth must become the foundation of industrialisation, productive employment, local enterprise and sustainable prosperity,” the ACF noted.

In September, Nigeria and the U.S. signed the agreement to deepen cooperation on critical minerals, with the former seeking greater investment, local processing, technology transfer and job creation.

President Donald Trump said the $700 billion agreement would expand opportunities for American companies to access Nigeria’s critical minerals while strengthening U.S. supply chains.