Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, has called on the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to make public all memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements signed with foreign partners. She said this would promote transparency, accountability, and public trust in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
Speaking at the ministry’s legislative retreat attended by Dr Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Akpoti-Uduaghan stressed that openness is key to ensuring the country benefits fully from its natural resources.
The senator, who is a member of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development chaired by Senator Ekong Sampson of Akwa Ibom South, said Nigerians have a right to know the details of agreements made in their name.
“We would like all the various MoUs you have entered into to be made available to Nigerians and to the National Assembly,” she said.
“We would appreciate it if you deploy the Freedom of Information Act, because we are in an age where citizens are demanding transparency. It is from openness that accountability begins.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan explained that the lack of transparency in the sector has limited public confidence and made it difficult for citizens to hold government officials accountable. She urged the ministry to publish all contracts and MoUs on its website, saying it would cost little but make a big difference in building trust.
“We cannot begin to demand accountability if transparency is not in place,” she said.
“We are in the digital age, and it won’t take much to publish all of this information online.”
The senator also linked her advocacy to the economic struggles of her constituency in Kogi State, which is rich in natural resources but still faces widespread poverty.
“Kogi Central has over 52 solid minerals in commercial quantity, yet we are impoverished in the land of plenty,” she lamented.
“My people keep asking when and how we will start benefiting from these abundant minerals.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed concern that many valuable minerals, such as ruby, emerald, and tourmaline, are being extracted in states like Cross River without proper monitoring or revenue generation for the country.
“I was shocked to learn that Nigeria has rubies and emeralds, but these are being mined and exploited without the nation truly benefiting from them,” she said.
The senator warned the government to learn from the mistakes of the oil and gas sector, where mismanagement and lack of transparency have led to decades of corruption and environmental damage.
“We must be careful not to repeat the pitfalls of the oil sector,” she cautioned.
“The minister’s efforts are commendable, but we must ensure that every agreement is properly reviewed and that Nigeria gets fair value from its mineral wealth.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan also raised questions about the management of the Natural Resources Fund, which receives 1.68 per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund from the federal government.
“I would like to know how much has been generated into the Natural Resources Fund over the past three years,” she said.
“Since 1.68% of the special funds go into that account regularly, Nigerians deserve to know how much is there and how it has been used.”
The senator’s remarks have drawn attention to the need for greater openness and accountability in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector — a key industry that many believe could diversify the economy if managed properly.
