FG accuses mining firm of 'smear campaign' during Tinubu’s UK visit

The Federal Government has accused an embattled mining firm, Jupiter Ltd, of plotting a campaign of calumny against Nigeria during the ongoing visit of President Bola Tinubu to the United Kingdom.

The Ministry of Solid Minerals, in a statement, signed by Segun Tomori, Special Assistant to the Minister, Dele Alake, said the company allegedly plans to circulate misleading claims about the Nigerian mining sector in foreign media in a bid to discredit Government reforms.

The statement read that the Government had earlier responded to what it described as false allegations contained in a publication entitled “Nigeria Seizes British Lithium Project Under Armed Guard.”

Tomori said the Government’s rebuttal, entitled “In Nigeria’s Mining Sector, The Law Is No Respecter of Persons,” clarified that the allegations were baseless and that the Government had no legal or contractual relationship with any entity known as Jupiter Lithium.

He explained that Nigeria’s mining regulations do not permit foreign firms to directly hold mineral licences, noting that titles must be issued to locally registered companies in line with the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act.

According to the Ministry, the dispute stems from the revocation of mineral titles belonging to Basin Mining Ltd, a Nigerian company allegedly linked to Steve Davis, an Australian national.

Tomori said the licences were withdrawn after the company failed to pay statutory annual service fees totalling ₦2.49 billion for several mineral titles covering the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years.

He added that claims by Jupiter that the titles were revoked in favour of a Chinese firm were false.

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The Ministry also accused Davis of operating multiple companies to acquire mineral titles without undertaking actual mining operations.

According to the Government, Davis is listed as a director in several firms including Comet Minerals Ltd, Basin Mining Ltd, Range Mining Ltd, Northern Numero Ltd, Sunrise Minerals Ltd and Iron Ore Mining Ltd.

The Ministry said such practices contribute to illegal mining and prevent serious investors from developing the sector.

Tomori said the Administration of President Tinubu would not tolerate activities that undermine ongoing reforms in the mining industry.

He added that the Government remains committed to strengthening regulation and transparency in the sector while attracting genuine investors.

“Nigeria remains open to serious investors willing to operate within the framework of our laws and regulations,” he said.

He noted that incentives introduced by the Government include tax waivers on imported mining equipment and full repatriation of profits aimed at improving the ease of doing business in the mining sector.

Ruth Tene Natsa

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet. An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.