Minna 37 and the Nigeria-US Mining Deal: Is the Devil in the Details?

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Edited by Oke Epia, E-mail: sostainability01@gmail.com  | WhatsApp: +234 8034000706

Washing and Hushing

Two recent events have put Nigeria’s mining sector in the global spotlight. One for good reason, the other for bad. Presumably. Because both can potentially be for the latter. The details need to fully unfold before it can be said that the good news cancels out the bad. And as is typical of the Nigerian state, where transparency, public accountability, social justice, fairness, and equity remain mostly aspirational after 66 years of independence, citizens and the world may never get to know the full details of both presumably unrelated events. On September 17, 2026, 37 alleged illegal miners, mostly teenagers, died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State. One week later, at Nigeria’s Mission House in New York, Nigeria and the United States of America (USA) signed a mining agreement.  

As expected, the gruesome death of the 37 miners drew spontaneous and widespread public outrage and a flurry of reactions from both the federal and Niger State governments, including suspension of NSCDC officials and empanelling of an investigation. As expected, Abuja has framed the Nigeria-US deal as a foreign investment manoeuvre that will significantly improve the value of the country’s minerals and increase revenue earnings for the world’s biggest population of black people. Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake, said the “framework agreement” gives America access to Nigeria’s $700 billion critical mineral resources. On its part, the US is expected to support Nigeria with technical capacity-building, infrastructure development, in-country processing of raw materials, job creation, and improved geological data. “Some agreements manage the present, and some agreements shape the future. The framework we sign today belongs to the second kind. In signing this framework, Nigeria and the United States affirm a shared conviction: that the supply chains for these critical minerals must be secure, resilient and built on responsible investment,” the minister said at the signing ceremony. According to him, “Nigeria cannot remain a source of raw materials while others capture ​most of ​the value. ⁠We want more local processing, quality jobs, stronger skills and greater ​opportunities for Nigerian businesses.” It is noteworthy that the signing ceremony featured a handful of government officials from both sides, with no reported participation from private sector actors. On the Nigerian side, Alake was joined by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Yusuf Yabo; Director-General, Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), Simon Nkom; Executive Secretary, Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), Hajiya Fatima Shinkafi; and Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Solid Minerals Company (NSMC), Martin Imonitie. The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was also in attendance.

The US Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, signed on behalf of the Donald Trump administration. He was accompanied by the Deputy Assistant Secretary for West African Affairs, Rich Michaels; Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Southern Africa, Foreign Assistance and Critical Minerals, Chris Kulukundis; and Senior Policy Adviser to the Deputy Secretary, Wyatt Toehlkeke. Mr. Landau said nothing beyond the usual cryptic diplomatic niceties which raised questions on the real motives behind the deal. “The signal we are sending is that the United States and Nigeria are partners,” he said, adding: “Under President Trump and President Tinubu’s leadership, the United States and Nigeria have done many things together in the last one and a half years that we’ve never done before. I think we would like to keep building on that momentum.” No hint of when, what, and how the US would bring the anticipated value to Nigeria’s critical minerals sector. No mention of how US companies and official state support would be looped in to extract the value and benefits Mr. Alake spoke about. It is worth noting that there has been no official US government statement on the deal, let alone the agreement being made public. Apart from the hype, Abuja has been mute on details as well. What Nigerian companies and businesses are in the loop to engage with US counterparts? What communities and localities would bear the brunt of extraction, processing, and other downstream activities? What plans are in place to engage and secure the necessary social licence to operate? Is the National Assembly aware of the details of this agreement? Many questions require answers.

Perhaps this is why foreign media has framed the deal mostly through a geopolitical prism and the transactional character of the Trump administration. According to Reuters, “the deal ​follows Washington’s push to strengthen ties with mineral-producing countries and diversify supply chains for critical minerals used ​in technologies such as electric vehicle batteries ​and renewable energy infrastructure. Nigeria hopes the partnership will help attract investment into its largely underdeveloped mining industry, ⁠including ​the emerging lithium sector, ​where Chinese companies have been among the most active foreign ​investors.”

Australia-based niche medium, Mining.com.au, was even more cynical in its reportage: “Nigeria says it intends to use government cooperation as a foundation for transactions between US and Nigerian businesses. Its government estimates the country’s undeveloped mineral resources are worth approximately US$700 billion ($995.8 billion), although it has not published the methodology underpinning that valuation. No individual projects, participating companies, financing commitments, or implementation timetable were announced. Nigeria hosts deposits of lithium, gold, tin, gemstones, iron ore, and phosphate. The country is seeking to expand mining as part of efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil and gas. However, the agreement does not itself commit either government or private companies to fund or develop a mining project.”

US-based Business Insider reported the event along the same lines. “This move comes amid strategic competition between the US and China for Africa’s critical mineral resources, especially for technologies like electric vehicles,” it reported, adding: “Chinese companies have been among the most active foreign investors in Nigeria’s emerging lithium industry. Nigeria’s lithium, tin, tantalum, niobium and other mineral resources are increasingly important to global supply chains for batteries, electronics, renewable energy and defence. For the US, Nigeria offers a potential new source of critical minerals as Washington seeks to diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on China.”

It is also noteworthy that the mineral deal was struck during the state visit of China’s President, Xi Jinping, to Washington. Whether this was a coincidence or not, the message could not have been lost on China. Although America is late to the party, landing a bilateral advantage is a move the Chinese will be watching with keen interest. Would Nigeria’s rich mineral resources become the frontline for the never-ending US-China power game? It is in Abuja’s interest to disclose the deal in the spirit of transparency and accountability. That is how to silence the swirling conspiracy theories surrounding what should otherwise be a noble development. Or is the devil in the details?