Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called on the Federal Government to publish the full details of Nigeria’s agreements with the United States on health and mining.
Atiku said Nigerians deserved to know the terms of the agreements, particularly provisions relating to healthcare data, pathogen samples, funding commitments and access to Nigeria’s mineral resources.
In a statement issued by his Director of Strategic Communication, ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku specifically demanded the publication of Nigeria’s five-year health Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the US.
Nigeria signed the health agreement with the United States on December 19, 2025.
The demand followed Ghanaian President John Mahama’s disclosure that Ghana rejected a proposed US health compact over concerns about medical records, pathogen information, funding obligations and the inspection of imported medicines.
Atiku asked the Federal Government to clarify whether similar concerns were addressed before Nigeria signed its agreement.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigerian agreement covers disease surveillance, health data systems and procedures involving pathogen samples. The US is expected to provide nearly $2 billion in grants, while Nigeria has made health spending commitments projected to mobilise almost $3 billion over five years.
Atiku questioned whether Nigeria had the financial capacity to meet its commitments, citing healthcare funding challenges.
He referred to Health Minister Prof Muhammad Ali Pate’s disclosure to lawmakers that only N36 million had been released from the N218 billion appropriated for capital projects and programmes at the Ministry of Health headquarters in 2025.
The former Vice President urged the government to publish the complete health MoU, including related protocols, annexes, data-sharing arrangements, specimen-sharing agreements and financial undertakings.
Atiku Seeks Details of Nigeria-US Mining Agreement
Atiku also demanded the publication of Nigeria’s agreement with the United States aimed at increasing American investment in the mining sector.
In a separate statement signed by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku questioned the Federal Government’s reference to Nigeria’s mineral resources as being worth $700 billion.
Ibe clarified that the $700 billion figure represented the estimated value of Nigeria’s mineral resources, rather than the amount of investment being committed by the United States.
He said the distinction made it important for the agreement to be made public, given the potential economic and strategic significance of the country’s mineral wealth.
The statement sought clarification on the minerals covered by the agreement, including whether lithium, gold and rare earth minerals were involved, and whether US companies would receive preferential access.
It also raised questions about possible tax concessions, guarantees and other fiscal arrangements.
Atiku further sought clarification on whether minerals extracted under the agreement would have to be processed in Nigeria before export or could be exported as raw materials.
He also asked whether additional documents, including annexes, side letters or implementation agreements, existed.
The demand followed an announcement by Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake that Nigeria and the United States had signed an agreement to deepen American investment in Nigeria’s mining sector.
Alake said the framework would strengthen cooperation on geological data and exploration, mineral development and processing, infrastructure and technical capacity.
He valued Nigeria’s mineral resources at about $700 billion.
Atiku urged the Federal Government to publish the mining agreement and any related documents to allow public and institutional scrutiny.
