$700m minerals deal: Atiku demands details, asks if Tinubu signed what Ghana rejected

Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has questioned the recent $700 million minerals deal between the United States and Nigeria's government under President Bola Tinubu. His spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, announced in a statement that Atiku wants the full details of the deal released immediately.

This issue has sparked controversy following the announcement of the US-Nigeria minerals deal. The Nigerian Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, addressed the matter in an interview on Arise Television, stating that Nigeria possesses enough minerals of interest to the US, and dismissing rumors of secrecy surrounding the agreement.

Atiku, however, raised doubts about whether the deal that Tinubu signed is identical to the one previously rejected by Ghana's administration headed by John Mahama due to certain concerns. He posed a critical question to Nigerians: "Are Nigerians left to speculate about the terms they've consented to?" Emphasizing the importance of transparency, Atiku urged the Nigerian government to publish the complete Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), along with any related protocols, annexes, data-sharing arrangements, specimen-sharing agreements, and financial commitments.

He called for clarity on various details, including whether Nigerians' medical information or pathogen samples could leave the country, who would have access to them, and the extent of control the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) would retain over inspecting medicines and medical products. Atiku also asked Tinubu to present the documents to Nigerians and address these questions directly.