Why US-Nigeria mining deal was cancelled – US firm
A Washington-based lobbying and advisory firm has claimed that a proposed mining agreement between the United States and Nigeria is connected to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to arrange a meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, made the allegation on Thursday, stating that the mining deal is among the proposals that Tinubu allegedly offered as a condition for the meeting.
In a statement, the firm described the memorandum of understanding (MOU) as a significant step in U.S.-Nigeria collaboration. It emphasized that the agreement would enhance American access to critical metals and minerals while also benefiting Nigeria’s mining sector.
“The signing of the U.S.-Nigeria mining MOU is the first step of cooperation between the United States and Nigeria that serves America’s interests in having access to critical metals and minerals while improving the Nigerian mining industry,” the statement read.
Last week, the Nigerian government announced the MOU, which was initially intended to be signed at the United Nations during Tinubu’s time in New York. However, the firm alleged that after contacting the Trump administration, the agreement was quickly retracted, leading to the cancellation of the signing ceremony and Tinubu’s subsequent stay in France. Instead, Trump proceeded to finalize other agreements at the UN, while Tinubu did not secure the anticipated meeting.
