Mineral deal: Publish your MoU with Tinubu govt – US firm tells Trump
A United States advocacy firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has called on the Trump administration to disclose the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the U.S. and Nigerian governments concerning critical minerals.
In a statement on its verified X account, the firm indicated that making the agreement public would address allegations of corruption associated with the MoU. The organization emphasized the importance of transparency as Democratic lawmakers have expressed intentions to scrutinize critical minerals deals negotiated by the Trump administration and the officials involved.
Reports indicate that the U.S. and Nigeria entered into a framework agreement on September 24 in New York, aimed at enhancing cooperation and investment in Nigeria’s mining sector. This agreement encompasses various areas, including geological data and exploration, mineral development and processing, infrastructure, and technical capacity.
Von Batten-Montague-York urged the State Department to release the signed document, asserting that such transparency is essential to countering increasing claims of corruption and “pay-to-play” allegations. The firm also pointed to distressing reports involving the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
“The integrity of the United States is on the line as Democrats openly signal plans to investigate the Trump administration’s critical-minerals deals and the officials involved in negotiating them,” the firm stated. “Concerns have been raised about high levels of corruption and ‘pay-to-play’ arrangements. Furthermore, as Nigerians question the alleged murder of 37 individuals—including young men and children—by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s paramilitary forces for illegal mining, it is crucial that the State Department publishes the signed MoU to dispel the growing accusations of corruption,” the firm added in its tweet.
