Our Correspondent
The Federal Government has accused an embattled mining company, Jupiter Ltd, of planning what it described as a “campaign of calumny” against Nigeria during the forthcoming state visit of President Bola Tinubu to the United Kingdom.
According to the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the alleged move is aimed at discrediting ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s mining sector and misleading the international community over the revocation of certain mineral licences.
In a statement on Sunday, the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Segun Tomori, dismissed claims circulating in some international publications that Nigeria seized a British lithium project under armed guard.
Tomori said the allegations were false and misleading, stressing that the Federal Government had no legal or contractual relationship with any company known as Jupiter Lithium.
He explained that Nigeria’s mining laws prohibit foreign companies from directly holding mineral titles under the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act.
“It has come to the attention of the ministry that an embattled mining firm, Jupiter Ltd, plans to orchestrate a campaign of calumny against the Federal Government of Nigeria during the state visit of President Bola Tinubu to the United Kingdom,” the statement said.
Licence revocation dispute
The ministry said the controversy stems from the revocation of mineral licences belonging to Basin Mining Ltd, a Nigerian firm allegedly linked to an Australian national, Steve Davis.
According to the government, the revocation followed the company’s failure to meet statutory financial obligations, including the payment of annual service fees amounting to N2.494bn for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years.
The unpaid fees were linked to several mineral titles — 45454ML, 45117ML, 45118ML, 40532ML and 40533ML — which were revoked after due notice was served in line with regulatory procedures.
Tomori also dismissed claims that the licences were transferred to a Chinese company, describing the allegation as “a complete fabrication” designed to mislead both Nigerians and international stakeholders.
Allegations of speculative mining activities
The ministry further alleged that Davis had interests in multiple mining firms operating in Nigeria, including Comet Minerals Ltd, Range Mining Ltd, Northern Numero Ltd, Sunrise Minerals Ltd and Iron Ore Mining Ltd.
Officials claim such arrangements are often used by speculators to acquire mineral licences without developing the assets.
According to the ministry, this practice has contributed significantly to the problem of dormant mining licences and illegal mining activities in the country.
“The government’s strict enforcement of regulations has now caught up with those who seek to exploit loopholes in the system,” Tomori said.
Government defends mining reforms
The Federal Government insisted it would not be intimidated or blackmailed into reversing reforms aimed at sanitising the mining industry.
Nigeria has in recent years intensified efforts to develop its vast deposits of lithium, gold, iron ore and rare earth minerals as part of a broader strategy to diversify the economy away from crude oil dependence.
Under the ongoing reforms, authorities have introduced incentives such as tax waivers on imported mining equipment, full repatriation of profits and regulatory improvements designed to enhance the ease of doing business.
Officials say these policies have begun attracting growing international interest, particularly in lithium, a key component in electric vehicle batteries and energy storage technologies.
“Our commitment to transforming the mining sector into a major contributor to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product is unwavering,” the ministry said.
Tinubu’s historic UK visit
The dispute comes ahead of President Tinubu’s scheduled state visit to the United Kingdom from March 18 to 19, 2026, following an invitation from Charles III.
The Nigerian leader is expected to be hosted at Windsor Castle, with discussions focusing on strengthening bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, security and migration.
The trip will mark the first state visit by a Nigerian president to the UK in 37 years, with previous visits by Nigerian leaders recorded in 1973, 1981 and 1989.
The Federal Government urged Nigerians and international stakeholders to disregard what it described as “misleading narratives” by individuals seeking to undermine the country’s mining sector reforms.