Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has called on the Federal Government to immediately publish Nigeria’s health agreement with the United States, saying the deal raises questions about patients’ data, pathogen samples and healthcare funding.

He also demanded the publication of the agreement Nigeria reached with the U.S. on mining.

Atiku made the demand for publication on the health agreement in a statement yesterday, his Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu,

The call followed the Ghanaian President, John Mahama’s disclosure that his country rejected a proposed health compact with the United States over concerns relating to medical records, pathogen information, funding obligations and the inspection of imported medicines.

Atiku said Nigerians should be allowed to know whether the issues that prompted Ghana to reject the proposal were addressed in the agreement signed by Nigeria.

Nigeria signed a five-year health Memorandum of Understanding with the United States on December 19, 2025.

According to the Federal Ministry of Health, the agreement covers disease surveillance, health data systems and procedures involving pathogen samples. The United States is expected to provide nearly $2 billion in grants, while Nigeria has made health spending commitments projected to mobilise nearly $3 billion over five years.

Atiku said the commitments should be considered against the country’s healthcare challenges, citing internationally comparable estimates that put Nigeria’s maternal deaths at 75,000 in 2023, the highest total recorded globally.

The former Vice President also questioned the government’s capacity to meet its funding commitments, citing the release of funds for approved healthcare projects.

He referred to the 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.

Atiku urged the Federal Government to publish the complete MoU and all related protocols, annexes, data-sharing arrangements, specimen-sharing agreements and financial undertakings.

In another statement signed by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku demanded the publication of the agreement between Nigeria and the United States on investment in the country’s mining sector.

Ibe, in a statement yesterday, clarified that the $700 billion figure cited by the Federal Government represented the estimated value of Nigeria’s mineral resources and not the amount of investment being committed by the United States.

He said the distinction made it necessary for the Federal Government to disclose the details of the agreement, given the potential economic and strategic value of the country’s mineral resources.

He sought clarification on the specific minerals covered by the agreement, asking whether it included lithium, gold, rare earths or other resources, and whether American companies would enjoy preferential access.

The former Vice President’s media adviser also questioned whether the agreement contained tax concessions, guarantees or other preferential fiscal arrangements.

He further sought clarification on whether minerals extracted under the agreement would be required to undergo processing in Nigeria before export or could be shipped out as raw materials.

He also questioned whether additional documents, including annexes, side letters or implementation agreements, existed but had not been made public, asking why an agreement involving mineral resources estimated by the government at $700 billion should remain unavailable for full public and institutional scrutiny.

He urged the Federal Government to publish the details of the agreement, including any annexes and side letters, to address concerns surrounding the deal.

Nigeria and the United States signed an agreement aimed at deepening American investment in Nigeria’s mining sector.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, disclosed this in a post on X last Thursday.

According to Alake, the agreement is to strengthen cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in the development of Nigeria’s mineral resources, which he valued at about $700 billion.

He said the framework covers geological data and exploration, mineral development and processing, infrastructure, and technical capacity.