During President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s upcoming state visit to the UK, the Federal Government has accused Jupiter Ltd. of organizing what it called a “campaign of calumny” against Nigeria.
According to the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the purported action was intended to deceive the international community about the termination of certain mineral licenses and undermine current reforms in the mining industry.
Segun Tomori, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development’s Special Assistant on Media, rejected allegations that Nigeria had taken control of a British lithium project while it was under armed guard in a statement released on Sunday, March 15. He called the assertions untrue and deceptive.
Tomori emphasized that Nigerian mining regulations prohibit foreign firms from directly holding mineral titles and stated that the Federal Government had no contractual or legal link with any company such as Jupiter Lithium.
“The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has learned that Jupiter Ltd., a troubled mining company, intends to launch a campaign of defamation against the Federal Government of Nigeria during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom,” the statement stated.
“Earlier this week, in a publication titled ‘Nigeria Seizes British Lithium Project Under Armed Guard,’ Kehinde Bamigbetan, Special Advisor to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, wrote a response to what we called a tissue of lies sponsored by Jupiter Ltd.”
“In Nigeria’s Mining Sector, The Law Is No Respecter of Persons,” the title of our answer, detailed the actions of Steve Davis and Hamish MacDonald, whose mining business ultimately faced the full force of the law.
According to the government, the controversy started after Basin Mining Ltd., a Nigerian business connected to Australian Steve Davis, had its mineral rights revoked.
The government claims that the company’s noncompliance with Nigeria’s mining regulations’ statutory financial duties was the reason for the revocation.
According to Tomori, Basin Mining Ltd. lost the titles for failing to pay ₦2.494 billion in mandatory annual service fees for the fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
The unpaid payments applied to mineral titles 45454ML, 45117ML, 45118ML, 40532ML, and 40533ML, which were canceled in accordance with current regulations after the firm was given due notice.
Additionally, the ministry denied allegations that the licenses were transferred to a Chinese company, characterizing the assertion as a fabrication meant to deceive the people and the world community.
Additionally, it claimed that Davis owned stock in a number of Nigerian mining firms, such as Comet Minerals Ltd., Basin Mining Ltd., Range Mining Ltd., Northern Numero Ltd., Sunrise Minerals Ltd., and Iron Ore Mining Ltd.
According to the ministry, speculators frequently utilize these kinds of agreements to get mineral titles without carrying out actual mining operations. The ministry also stated that this practice has led to dormant mining licenses and illicit mining activities in the nation.
Tomori declared, “The Federal Government of Nigeria cannot and will not be blackmailed or intimidated into abandoning reforms by the antics of any individual or company.”
“We are steadfast in our resolve to turn the mining industry into a significant contributor to the country’s GDP.”
According to reports, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will travel to the UK from March 18–19, 2026, at the invitation of Charles III, who would host the Nigerian leader at Windsor Castle.
Strengthening diplomatic and economic links between the two nations is anticipated to be the main goal of the visit, including collaboration in trade, investment, security, and migration.
