By Jimmy Fatunbi
The Federal Government has alleged that an embattled mining company, Jupiter Ltd, is planning a campaign aimed at embarrassing Nigeria during the upcoming state visit of President Bola Tinubu to the United Kingdom.
The government said the alleged move followed a dispute over revoked mineral licences and was intended to discredit ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s mining sector.
In a statement on Sunday by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Segun Tomori, the ministry said the company and its associates were allegedly preparing to circulate misleading claims about the Nigerian mining industry to influence international opinion during the visit.
According to the ministry, the alleged campaign is designed to misrepresent the circumstances surrounding the revocation of certain mineral titles and portray the Federal Government in a negative light.
Tomori specifically dismissed claims that Nigeria seized a British lithium project under armed guard, describing the allegation as false and misleading.
He said the Federal Government had no legal or contractual relationship with any company known as Jupiter Lithium, adding that Nigeria’s mining laws prohibit foreign companies from directly holding mineral titles.
“It has come to the attention of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development 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.
Tomori noted that the ministry had earlier responded to a publication titled “Nigeria Seizes British Lithium Project Under Armed Guard,” which it described as containing false claims sponsored by the company.
The ministry’s response, titled “In Nigeria’s Mining Sector, The Law Is No Respecter of Persons,” accused certain individuals, including Steve Davis and Hamish MacDonald, of spreading misleading information about the sector.
According to the government, the controversy stemmed from the revocation of mineral titles belonging to Basin Mining Ltd, a Nigerian company allegedly linked to Davis, an Australian national.
The ministry said the licences were withdrawn after the company failed to meet statutory financial obligations under Nigeria’s mining regulations.
Tomori explained that Basin Mining Ltd lost the mineral titles after failing to pay annual service fees totalling N2.494bn for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years.
The unpaid fees covered mineral titles 45454ML, 45117ML, 45118ML, 40532ML and 40533ML.
“The revocation was carried out after due notice was served on the company in accordance with existing laws governing default in payment of annual service fees,” he said.
The ministry also rejected allegations that the revoked licences were reassigned to a Chinese company, describing the claim as fabricated.
According to the statement, Davis has interests in several mining companies 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 alleged that such arrangements are often used by speculators to acquire mineral titles without carrying out actual mining operations.
“Jupiter, though unknown to the mining authorities, peddled falsehoods by claiming that its titles were revoked in favour of a Chinese firm. This is a complete fabrication,” the statement said.
The ministry added that speculative acquisition of licences has contributed to the problem of dormant mining titles and illegal mining activities in Nigeria.
It stressed that the Federal Government was determined to end such practices as part of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in the mining sector.
According to Tomori, the administration of President Tinubu will not tolerate activities that undermine efforts to reposition the sector as a key driver of economic growth.
“The nefarious activities of the past that stunted the growth of the mining sector will no longer be tolerated,” he said.
He urged Nigerians and the international community to disregard what the ministry described as attempts by “discredited individuals” to undermine the government’s reform agenda.
Tomori also maintained that the government would not be intimidated into reversing reforms aimed at improving investor confidence and transparency.
“Our commitment to transforming the mining sector into a major contributor to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product is unwavering,” he added.
Nigeria has in recent years intensified efforts to develop its solid mineral resources, including lithium, gold, iron ore and rare earth elements, as part of a broader strategy to diversify the economy away from crude oil.
The government has introduced several incentives to attract investors, including tax waivers on imported mining equipment, provisions allowing full repatriation of profits, and regulatory measures designed to improve the ease of doing business in the sector.
Authorities, however, insist that all investors must comply strictly with Nigeria’s mining laws and regulatory requirements.
