By our correspondent
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has called on the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to disclose all memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements signed with foreign partners, citing the need for greater transparency and public accountability in the sector.
Speaking during a legislative retreat organized by the ministry and attended by Minister Dele Alake, the senator representing Kogi Central emphasized the importance of openness in managing Nigeria’s natural resources.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development chaired by Senator Ekong Sampson (Akwa Ibom South), urged the ministry to leverage the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act to make the agreements publicly accessible.
“We would like them to be made available to Nigerians—the various MoUs you have entered into,” she said. “We would appreciate if you deploy the Freedom of Information Act because we are in an age where transparency is being demanded.”
The senator noted that sharing the details of these agreements would not only aid legislative oversight but also foster public trust in the management of the country’s solid minerals sector.
Her comments come amid growing concerns over opaque dealings and the lack of public access to critical agreements governing Nigeria’s extractive industries.
