Mining row: FG accuses Jupiter Ltd of plot to discredit Nigeria during Tinubu’s UK trip

THE Nigerian government has alleged that Jupiter Limited, a mining firm currently locked in a dispute with authorities, is planning a smear campaign against Nigeria during the forthcoming state visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the United Kingdom.

Officials at the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development said the alleged move is designed to undermine recent reforms in the country’s mining industry and distort the circumstances that led to the withdrawal of some mineral licences.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Special Assistant on Media to the Solid Minerals Minister, Mr Segun Tomori, dismissed reports suggesting that Nigeria forcefully took over a British-owned lithium project, describing the allegation as baseless and intended to mislead both local and international audiences.

Tomori stressed that the Nigerian government has no legal dealings with a company known as Jupiter Lithium, noting that Nigeria’s mining regulations do not allow foreign firms to directly hold mineral titles.

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According to the ministry, the latest controversy follows the cancellation of licences previously held by Basin Mining Ltd, a Nigerian-registered firm said to be linked to Australian national Steve Davis.

Authorities explained that the licences were withdrawn after the company failed to meet its statutory financial obligations as required under the country’s mining regulations.

The government said Basin Mining Ltd defaulted on annual service fees totaling N2.494 billion covering the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years.

The outstanding payments were tied to mineral titles 45454ML, 45117ML, 45118ML, 40532ML and 40533ML, which were eventually revoked after the company was formally notified in line with existing legal provisions.

The ministry also rejected claims that the cancelled licences were subsequently transferred to a Chinese company, describing the allegation as entirely fabricated.

Officials further alleged that Davis maintains interests across several mining entities operating in Nigeria, including Comet Minerals Ltd, Basin Mining Ltd, Range Mining Ltd, Northern Numero Ltd, Sunrise Minerals Ltd and Iron Ore Mining Ltd.

The government said such arrangements are often used by speculators to obtain licences without undertaking genuine mining activities.

According to the ministry, this pattern has contributed to the widespread problem of inactive mining licences and illegal mining operations across the country. Authorities insisted that ongoing reforms are intended to address these challenges and reposition the mining sector as a key contributor to economic growth.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria will not succumb to intimidation or blackmail aimed at halting reforms in the sector,” Tomori said, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to strengthening the industry’s role in national development.

The ministry also urged Nigerians and international observers to disregard what it called attempts by ‘discredited actors’ to undermine the country’s reform efforts.

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Nigeria has been ramping up efforts to develop its vast mineral resources, including lithium, gold, iron ore and rare earth elements, as part of a broader plan to diversify the economy away from oil. Solid minerals contributed merely 1.8 percent to the national GDP by the second quarter (Q2) of 2025, with revenue generated from the sector exceeding N70 billion for the full year.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to undertake a state visit to the United Kingdom from March 18 to 19, 2026, following an invitation from King Charles III. The Nigerian leader is scheduled to be hosted at Windsor Castle.

The visit is expected to centre on strengthening bilateral ties between Nigeria and the UK, with discussions likely to cover trade, investment, security cooperation and migration.