Mineral deal: Publish your MoU with Tinubu govt – US firm tells Trump

A United States advocacy firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has urged the administration of Donald Trump to publish the signed Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, between the US and Nigerian government on critical minerals.

In a post on its verified X handle, Von Batten-Montague-York said the disclosure would help dispel allegations of corruption surrounding the agreement.

The firm stated that the integrity of the United States is on the line as Democratic lawmakers signal plans to scrutinise critical-minerals agreements negotiated by the Trump administration and the officials involved.

Recall that the United States and Nigeria reportedly signed a framework agreement in New York on September 24 to deepen cooperation and investment in Nigeria’s mining sector.

The agreement covers geological data and exploration, mineral development and processing, infrastructure and technical capacity.

The firm urged the US State Department to make the signed document public, stressing that transparency was necessary to address what growing accusations of corruption and “pay-to-play” arrangements.

It equally referenced concerns surrounding the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Niger State.

“The integrity of the United States is on the line. Democrats are openly signaling plans to investigate the Donald Trump Administration’s critical-minerals deals and the officials involved in negotiating them.

“The Democratic Party is citing high corruption and pay-to-play, which, in our opinion, is ridiculous.

“With Nigerians now questioning the alleged murder of 37 young men and children by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s paramilitary forces for illegally mining, and those mines reportedly being described by Nigerian government officials as a settlement or “bribe” to the Trump administration, it is essential that the State Department publishes the signed MoU to dispel the growing accusations of corruption,” the firm tweeted.